Category Archives: Transgender

June 2017 Newsletter

Posted on by

HRC, Transgender and Local Control

 When President Donald Trump issued his April 26th Executive Order (EO) “Enforcing Statutory Prohibitions on Federal Control of Education,” it became the responsibility of the Secretary of the Department of Education (DOE). If the Secretary accomplishes the goal in the title of the EO, the end result should be (a) enforcement of current laws passed by Congress to protect local control of education and the (b) repeal of federal laws that impede local control.

The broad scope of the EO authorizes the Secretary to (a) examine and determine which regulations and guidance documents uphold local control of education materials1and which do not; (b) rescind or revise regulations and guidance documents that are inconsistent with education law; then subsequently, (c) propose and publish new regulations and guidance documents within 300 days after April 26, 2017, the issue-date of the EO.

Are Welcoming Schools Programs under local control? The Welcoming Schools Program of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) should be investigated for (a) the Pre-K2 – 12 LGBTQ inclusive programs that defy local values. Also, to be investigated should be (b) HRC-trained facilitators3 and (c) their LGBTQQ4 curricula content, (d) supplemental material and hand-outs, (e) as well as school nurse training. A Welcoming Schools facilitator, who represents the Georgia Safe Schools Coalition, also, recently trained Georgia’s Fayette County school nurses.

  • To read the rest of this newsletter in PDF format, please click here.

June 16, 2017 Radio Commentary

Posted on by

“Trans” Accommodations?

Radio Commentary, 90.7, 91.7 New Life FM, June 16, 2017 – By Sue Ella Deadwyler

Although the Georgia General Assembly has adjourned, bills introduced but not handled this year remain alive for next year, including over a hundred that were introduced the last day of the session.

One of those bills, Representative Golick’s H.B. 629, was assigned to the House Judiciary committee, where Mr. Golick is not only a member, but is a subcommittee chairman, as well. The title of H.B. 629 is the “Georgia Civil Rights in Public Accommodations Act,” and its subject is restrooms, locker rooms, and other facilities that are open to the public.

As introduced, H.B. 629 would create a new chapter in Georgia law to prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, or national origin in public facilities, which would not change Georgia’s current system.  However, H.B. 629 might have been introduced, specifically, to be amended next session.  Note that the bill does not include a separate category for “sex,” since males and females are treated equally in each of the categories already listed.  But please remember: While sex is a biological fact that identifies male and female, gender denotes variant sexual behavior. Continue reading →

December 30, 2016 Radio Commentary

Posted on by

2017: What’s New?

Radio Commentary, 90.7, 91.7 New Life FM, December 30, 2016 – By Sue Ella Deadwyler

Not only will Sunday be a new day, it’s the first day of a brand new year which will be escorted in with bells and whistles and world-wide celebrations. The new 2017 calendar will remind us that a new year has come and gone 2,016 times since the birth of Jesus Christ.

So, what’s new for 2017? Nobody knows the future, but if it goes according to the state constitution, the Georgia General Assembly will convene in ten days to begin a new 40-day session on the second Monday of the New Year. That’s when the new crop of senators and representatives, along with incumbents, take the oath of office to start their new two-year terms.

Twenty-eight new legislators will become part of the 180-member House of Representatives. Fourteen new legislators are Democrats and 14 are Republicans, so the make-up of the House will be 61 Democrats and 119 Republicans, meaning Republicans are one seat short of a two-thirds majority in the House. But that’s nothing new for the House. Continue reading →

June 10, 2016 Radio Commentary

Posted on by

The Battle for Privacy

Radio Commentary, 90.7, 91.7 New Life FM, June 10, 2016 – By Sue Ella Deadwyler

The bathroom issue is far from over, but, thankfully, Georgia School Superintendent Richard Woods assured local superintendents he “has their backs.” Referring to a joint letter to schools nation-wide from the U.S. Department of Education and Department of Justice, Superintendent Woods said this:

“We at the Georgia Department of Education believe the [letter] openly violates, misinterprets and moves to rewrite established U.S. law … [Therefore] you are not required to comply … or make changes to your established actions and policies.”

Then, he said, “However, if the federal government DOES decide to withhold federal funds, ENFORCE this directive, or bring suit against ANY district in Georgia … we will work with all parties to take appropriate action. …I do not believe a student of another gender should use a restroom or locker room alongside students of the opposite sex.” Continue reading →