News You Should Know: Can We Rely on the Law?

This week, we look at the upcoming Harris Funeral Homes case, which asks a very important question: Can Americans rely on the law as written? ADF Vice President of Appellate Advocacy John Bursch explains. Plus, a win for Michigan adoption providers thanks to Masterpiece Cakeshop, a look at why allowing biological males to compete in women’s sports does everyone a disservice, and an attempt by Republican lawmakers to halt Planned Parenthood’s efforts to make abortion-inducing drugs more widely available. All of this from the Alliance Alert team.

ADF in the News

The Detroit News: John Bursch: Much at stake in transgender Supreme Court case

When a male employee presented Harris Funeral Homes owner Tom Rost a letter explaining a plan to dress and present as a woman at work, Tom faced a hard decision. Ultimately, Tom had to consider the privacy of his female employees, his business, and his concern for the employee who handed him the letter. He denied the dress code violation—and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission sued Tom and tried to change the federal definition of "sex" to "gender identity." ADF Vice President of Appellate Advocacy John Bursch writes about the upcoming oral arguments at the U.S. Supreme Court (in which he will argue on Rost's behalf) and underlines the importance of R.G. & G.R. Harris Funeral Homes v. EEOC for all Americans.

Religious Freedom

National Review: Once Again, Progressive Anti-Christian Bigotry Carries a Steep Legal Cost

How important was the Masterpiece Cakeshop decision and its condemnation of government-sponsored hostility toward religious views? Just ask St. Vincent Catholic Charities, a Michigan adoption provider that successfully challenged a state rule violating its religious beliefs. Last week, a federal judge ruled in favor of St. Vincent, thanks to what David French deems “overt bigotry” from state Attorney General Dana Nessel. General Nessel called faith-based foster care and adoption providers “hate-mongers” while concocting a settlement agreement in an earlier case with the ACLU and setting new rules that all but gutted an earlier law designed to protect the religious freedom of St. Vincent and other faith-based organizations. As French writes at National Review, when state-sponsored bigotry comes to light, courts are rightfully upholding religious freedom.

Marriage and the Family

USA Today: Transgender athletes deserve compassion, but not the right to transform women's sports

Is the solution to confusion over one's sex allowing a redefinition of "sex" to mean "gender identity"? Anita Y. Milanovich explains at USA Today why she and over 1,000 athletes and parents submitted a friend-of-the-court brief in ADF case Harris Funeral Homes. Milanovich points out that millions of women and girls have enjoyed opportunities through Title VII, but changing the definition of "sex" could be disastrous. She writes that we're already seeing the consequences of allowing biological males into spaces reserved for women and that, if we truly want to show love and support to those struggling with their identity, putting boys on the women's sports teams won't be the answer.

Sanctity of Life

The Daily Caller: Republican Lawmakers Warn FDA Against Calls To Remove Restrictions On Abortion Drugs

Republican lawmakers are seeking to halt an attempt by Planned Parenthood to make abortifacients easier to access. Planned Parenthood is seeking to remove Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (REMS) from mifepristone—a drug that will kill and unborn child in pregnancies up to 10 weeks and has proven serious—even deadly—side effects. This means that people could order, prescribe, and dispense the drug without the oversight of a qualified healthcare provider. Lawmakers who oppose this action by Planned Parenthood call it "reckless" and are urging the FDA to take action and "strengthen these essential protections."

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