In today’s News:
Connecticut told men can’s compete as women
Following its months-long investigation into the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference and several Connecticut school districts, the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights has issued a letter of Impending Enforcement Action, finding that the athletic conference’s policy allowing males who identify as female to compete in girls’ athletic events disadvantages female athletes, denies them equal athletic opportunities, and violates federal law. Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys representing three female high-school track competitors and their mothers requested the DOE Office O\of Civil Rights investigation after the conference decided to allow male students who identify as female to compete on the girls’ athletic teams. Since 2017, males consistently deprived ADF clients Selina Soule, Alanna Smith and Chelsea Mitchell and others of honors and opportunities to compete at elite levels. The letter gives the conference and six Connecticut public high schools until June 4 to bring their policies into alignment with Title IX. The Department of Justice has already filed a brief supporting the position of ADF’s clients in the separate litigation challenging the same policy.
Illinois houses of worship are now open
Less than four hours before the deadline for Gov. J.B. Pritzker to file his response to the U.S. Supreme court to the emergency injunction request brought by two Romanian churches, the governor unilaterally removed all restrictions on churches and houses of worship. Within a few hours yesterday after two Romanian churches filed an emergency injunction pending appeal to the U.S. Supreme court, Justice Kavanaugh ordered Pritzker to respond by 8 p.m. Thursday night. Just before the deadline. Pritzker issued “guidelines” for houses of worship, none of which are mandatory. The guidelines are only suggestions and contain no legally enforceable requirements whatsoever.
Planned Parenthood responds to latest video release
Pro-life activist David Daleiden and Planned Parenthood traded blows Wednesday over newly released videos showing Planned Parenthood employees testifying in court about the sale of fetal organs. Fox News reported Tuesday that it had obtained footage from sworn depositions of Planned Parenthood staff in their lawsuit against Center for Medical Progress in which Daleiden’s attorneys questioned Planned Parenthood about their use of different techniques in abortions to preserve fetal tissue. Daleiden released his own video Tuesday that used clips of the depositions to renew accusations that Planned Parenthood profits from the sale of fetal organs. Planned Parenthood has publicly acknowledged that it was paid for fetal tissue but said argued it was within the law because the payments only reimbursed for costs. However, the videos show the organization has subsequently said they would no longer accept even reimbursements for fetal tissue provided for research.
