South Dakota became the first state this year – and the tenth across the country – to pass legislation making it safe to be a girl athlete. Senate Bill 36, “An Act to protect fairness in women’s sports,” was passed by the state Senate with a vote of 26 to 7 and by the House with a 50 to 17 vote.

The other states where it is safe for girl and women athletes to compete, without unfair competition from male-bodied athletes who believe they are females, are Idaho, Montana, Texas, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, West Virginia and Florida.

Signed into law by Governor Kristi Noem on February 3, the South Dakota Fairness Act allows only females – based on their biological sex – to participate in girls and women’s interscholastic, intercollegiate, intramural and club sports. If a school district or institution of higher education violates the law and allows a biological male to compete in women’s sports, the law allows girls and women to file a lawsuit against the district or institution.

The state might go even further to protect girls, as House Bill 1005 is also making its way through the legislature. This bill would “provide for the designated use of public school multi-occupancy rooms and sleeping rooms.” It allows schools to continue with single-sex showers, changing rooms, and restrooms, protecting girls from those private places being accessed by boys who claim to be girls.

A handful of Christians arrested in March and April 2020 for walking and praying in front of an abortion facility in Greensboro, North Carolina, have finally won some vindication of their clear free speech rights following a settlement of their claims against the city as well as Guilford County, which issued the restrictive health order that led to their arrest.

Lawyers with Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) announced the settlement, which involves a payment from the city of $15,000 for legal fees involved in the case, along with an agreement that engaging in peaceful prayer and sidewalk counseling outside an abortion facility is protected by the First Amendment.

Global Impact Ministries, operating under the name Love Life, mobilized representatives of the organization to walk and pray near A Woman’s Choice abortion facility on three occasions in late March and early April 2020, soon after the county’s health officials had issued a COVID-19 order against congregating with 10 or more people. The sidewalk counselors who showed up on those occasions numbered less than 10 and maintained required social distancing and followed hand sanitizing recommendations also contained in the county’s orders.

Notably, the county’s order allowed for outdoor exercise. It would have been perfectly fine for anyone to walk the streets of Greensboro to get some fresh air or go shopping.

Just over 100 miles separates Ohio State University and the University of Cincinnati along Interstate 71 in the Buckeye State – but two groups at the respective schools couldn’t be farther apart when it comes to a respect for the sanctity of human life.

“Sex Week” is underway at Ohio State University, an annual event sponsored by several university departments along with a group called “Student Advocates for Sexual Health Awareness.”

As part of “festivities,” students are encouraged to “thank abortion providers … for the valuable work they do for reproductive rights!” Sky Hart, who serves as SASHA’s president, says, “We feel they deserve appreciation, and should be reminded of the fact they are assisting our communities greatly.”

Contrast this reckless disregard for pre-born life at Ohio State with the words and actions of University of Cincinnati football coach, Luke Fickell. “Let us first acknowledge we are all created in the likeness and image of God,” Coach Fickell shared at a 2021 fundraiser for Pregnancy Center East (PCE), a non-profit organization dedicated to caring for women and their children.

“The secret to the work that I do is finding the right people and making sure they are prepared for the challenges ahead.”