For more than 20 years, Pennsylvania Family Council has raised concerns to lawmakers, our fellow citizens and ministry partners like you regarding proposals to create special classes in the law based on “sexual orientation and gender identity or expression.”  This is not unique to us; pro-family groups in Washington and all across the nation have also opposed such legislation because of the threat it poses to personal privacy and religious liberty.

Given these threats, and confusion about the issue here in Pennsylvania, I am sending you this important message:

Does the Bill that Sen. Wagner and Gov. Wolf Support Open Up Bathrooms, Showers & Locker Rooms to the Opposite Sex?

Is it a Bathroom Bill?

We’ve been receiving a lot of questions about Senate Bill 613, sponsored by Sen. Scott Wagner and strongly supported by Gov. Tom Wolf.  The bill is sometimes referred to as the “bathroom bill.”

Statements by the bill’s supporters – whether in public or social media have brought serious confusion about whether the proposal would put personal privacy in bathrooms, showers and locker rooms at risk.  Sen. Wagner, for example, has said “I am not supportive of boys and girls sharing bathrooms,” but continues to back the bill which many national and state groups say would jeopardize privacy, and allow the opposite sex into privacy facilities like bathrooms.

Let’s look at the facts:

Background:

SB 613 would add “sexual orientation and gender identity or expression” to the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act. Currently, there are 18 sponsors of the legislation in the State Senate, including 14 Democrats and 4 Republicans. Laws using essentially the same language elsewhere have opened up bathrooms, showers, dressing rooms, and locker rooms to persons of the opposite sex.

Here’s How:

Under the concept of “gender identity or expression,” a person’s gender is determined solely on the basis of what they think they are –not their anatomy. Thus, a person who is in every way physically/anatomically a male, but “identifies” as a female, under SB 613 cannot be denied entry into a women’s locker room, dressing room, shower or bathroom.

Others with significant expertise on the issue agree: 

“If sexual orientation and gender identity were added to anti-discrimination law, then public accommodations couldn’t exclude transgender people from the restrooms that correspond to their gender identity ‘any more than you could exclude Muslims’ from an establishment.”  Mariah Passarelli, a lawyer at Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC who specializes in employment and anti-discrimination law. (This firm also lobbied for this proposal).

“Prohibiting individuals from using restrooms consistent with their gender identity would likely be interpreted to be discrimination based on gender identity in violation of the law.” Christy Mallory, of the UCLA School of Law’s Williams Institute, a think tank that researches sexual orientation and gender law and public policy. (March 12, 2018 Philadelphia Inquirer)

Based on all the evidence and experience in other states with similar laws, SB 613 (and its companion bill in the House) would result in opening up showers, locker rooms, dressing rooms and bathrooms to members of the opposite sex that identify or express themselves otherwise.  Those that care about personal privacy must oppose this legislation.

Additional resources:

• SB 613 Affects Bathrooms & Showers: Bill Language Comparison to Maine & Washington State.

• When a Politician Tells You: Is It a Bathroom Bill?

• Read the bill: Senate Bill 613

• Philadelphia Inquirer, Gender, bathroom wars and the Pa. GOP governor’s race: What are the issues?, March 12, 2018.

• Citizen Action Center: Tell your State Senator and State Representative to oppose SB 613: tinyurl.com/dontharmpa

• For details on the broader impact of this legislation, click here to download our eBook.

At the request of our parishioners who enjoyed our Lenten fish frys, we are bringing the Fish Fry back for another night of delicious seafood, pizza, French fries, appetizers, soup and more! Please join us this Friday, April 20, from 4-7 PM in the Monsignor Woods Hall.  Families are welcome.  Entertainment for the kids!  Good food!  Dine In or Take Out.  You also have the option to pre-order before 12 noon on Friday by calling the rectory at 215-946-4040.  Hope to see you there!

Amazing news!

After a lengthy floor debate, the PA House of Representatives just voted 139-56 to PASS House Bill 2050 – the Down Syndrome Protection Act! That’s a 71% majority vote and a veto-proof majority! That means despite Governor Wolf threatening a veto, this vote sets the stage for a potential override of that threat.

139 State Representatives should be thanked for their desire to protect unborn children diagnosed with Down syndrome here in Pennsylvania. For now, send a “Thank You!” to Representative Judy Ward at: jward@pahousegop.com and to Speaker Mike Turzai at: mturzai@pahousegop.com for their leadership on this legislation.

Today’s vote is not the finish line. Passing the Down Syndrome Protection Act into law still has a ways to go. The next step is now up to your State Senator and the full State Senate to pass this reasonable and needed legislation. Click here to read the full email regarding the Downs Syndrome Protection Act from Michael Geer, President of the Pennsylvania Family Council.

The annual Father/Daughter Dance will be held this weekend, Saturday, April 21, from 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM in the Monsignor Woods Hall.  Fathers and daughters are invited to share a wonderful evening together with music, dancing, food and friends.  This year’s theme is Country Western.  Tickets are $25 per family and are available at the rectory.  Please call the rectory to reserve your tickets.  215-946-4040.

 Monday’s expected vote is going to be close.

Right now, abortion-extremist groups like Planned Parenthood are lobbying in full force against the Down Syndrome Protection Act (House Bill 2050) ahead of an expected vote in the PA House of Representatives. We’ve also been told that Governor Tom Wolf would veto the bill if it reaches his desk. All that being said, if this bill can achieve the two-thirds majority vote threshold in the House (134 votes with every State Representative present for a vote) and Senate, it will be enough to override an expected veto by Governor Wolf!

That’s the reality of Monday’s expected vote on the Down Syndrome Protection Act. There are some elected officials that agree with Planned Parenthood’s extreme view that babies can be aborted solely based on a diagnosis of Down syndrome. But, we’re close to reaching the override threshold.

Between now and Monday, can we count on you to contact your State Representative? A simple, short phone call asking for a yes vote on the Down Syndrome Protection Act truly makes a difference. And recruiting others to do the same begins to multiply its effectiveness.

Click here to identify your Legislator in the Pennsylvania General Assembly.  Please call and you can simply say the following:

“My name is ___ and I ask the Representative to please vote yes on the Down Syndrome Protection Act, House Bill 2050.”

Click here to read the full email regarding the Downs Syndrome Protection Act from Michael Geer, President of the Pennsylvania Family Council.

Did Netflix show kill Anna Bright?

Monday, April 9, 2018

The hugely popular Netflix series, 13 Reasons Why, has become a lightning rod for critics who say it glorifies suicide and might even make it an attractive option for teenagers who are enduring difficult times in their lives.

Watch the heartbreaking video about Anna Bright, a 14-year-old who committed suicide after binge-watching 13 Reasons Why. Anna’s parents contacted the American Family Association, asking us to help get the word out about the dangers of 13 Reasons Why. They shared their story with our film division.

On March 25, I sent a private letter to Netflix CEO Reed Hastings, respectfully asking for a short meeting to discuss our concerns. The letter was ignored.

Season 1 was hugely popular. While it was airing last year, the web site for Teen Vogue said the series was Netflix’s most popular show on social media. Netflix plans to release a second season soon.

Read the AFA Journal feature about this series and its impact on the family of Anna Bright and others.

Even the mainstream media has publicized the potential dangers of 13 Reasons Why, and some schools here in America and abroad have sent home letters to warn parents about the series.

Those dangers are very real. The American Academy of Pediatrics says that suicide has risen to become the second-leading cause of death among teenagers.

Asking Netflix to drop this dangerous television series is the right thing to do. Please sign this petition, then share it as a way to warn other friends, family, and church members about the dangers of 13 Reasons Why.

Sign the petition demanding that NNetflix pull Season 1 of the series and cancel plans to air Season 2.

Moments ago, the first legislative step was taken in the Down Syndrome Protection Act – House Bill 2050 – with a passing vote out of the PA House Health Committee (17-9 bipartisan unofficial vote) chaired by State Representative Kathy Rapp. House Bill 2050 could come up on the House floor for debate as early as this Wednesday.

Know this: extreme abortion-on-demand advocates like Planned Parenthood were active today lobbying against this reasonable measure. Several misconceptions about this legislation are being spread through the Capitol and in the media. Your help to combat these attacks is vital to the success of the Down Syndrome Protection Act.

Here are three ways you can help this week to support the Down Syndrome Protection Act:

1. Contact your State Representative (and State Senator) – visit their district office, call and/or email.

• To find their district office address or phone number, use our Find Your Legislator look-up tool.
• To email, use our Citizen Action Center: tinyurl.com/ValueAll

2. Utilize our online resources to educate and share with others.  

• Share our segment from our new webtool – WhenAPoliticianTellsYou.com – that offers a variety of resources on the question: When a politician tells you people with Down syndrome are being targeted, they’re absolutely right.

• Share stories of children born with Down syndrome and why this legislation is necessary: pafamily.org/alifeworthliving

• Read the bill yourself – it’s a really short bill because it simply adds “a prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome” to the Pennsylvania Abortion Control Act as a sole reason a woman cannot have an abortion. The law already states that a woman cannot have an abortion on the basis of sex selection. Passing the Down Syndrome Protection Act simply adds this additional reason. Here’s exactly what the bill states:

House Bill 2050 – “No abortion shall be deemed necessary if sought exclusively for either or both of the following reasons: (i) The sex of the unborn child. (ii) A prenatal diagnosis of, or belief that the unborn child has, Down syndrome.”

3. Write a letter to the editor of your newspaper.

• Use these resources to help craft a short response pointing to the importance of this legislation. For some tips on writing these letters, click here.

Thank you for taking action this week to help bring protection to unborn children diagnosed with Down syndrome.