Another rogue school board? Perhaps.

“If you consider that adults’ No. 1 fear is public speaking (death is seventh on that list), then a citizen who has summoned the courage to address the board certainly deserves the board’s full attention and respect. This is especially important when you do not agree with that person’s perspective.” – “Five rules to follow for great school board meetings,” by Steve Horton, school board services consultant

Fox and Yahoo News recently reported on Oklahoma middle school families who are alarmed over their daughters sharing a bathroom with a transgender student.

The Stillwater (Oklahoma) School Board, at their April 12, 2022 meeting, received public input on the issue. Speakers were given 3:00 minutes – except Brice Chaffin, whose input was too religious for the board. At about 56 seconds in the board President interrupted, saying that Brice was supposed to be speaking to the bathroom policy; then later (about 1:44) tells him to either get on topic or move on. The board stopped Chaffin while he still had about a minute of time left, including cutting the mic so he could not be heard. Chaffin left without incident, though Stillwater PD escorted him from the podium. A community member can fill out form BED-E, requesting to address the board of education. The board stopped him from addressing them, because his references to Scriptures offended them, while claiming this was “off topic.”

The Stillwater News Press explained the incident this way:

Brice Chaffin is removed from the Stillwater Board of Education meeting Tuesday for continuing to recite Bible verses after being asked to confine himself to the topic he signed up to discuss.

One might argue that Brice Chaffin could have done a better job arranging his address to the school board. On reflection, he might well agree. However, what the Bible says about any issue is “on topic” for the Christian. Are men and women different? Why does it matter whether a biological male uses the girls’ bathroom? “The Bible tells me so.” It appears, had Chaffin been allowed to finish, that he concludes that physical, natural, and moral law all address the topic of biology, sex, and which bathroom to use! The incident, how it played out, and its consequences, (and body language as well), display the obvious bias of the Stillwater school board against Christians being informed on this topic by the book of their faith, the Bible.

The Bereans “searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” Acts 17:11

You can watch the entire April 12, 2022 School Board Meeting of Stillwater (Oklahoma) Public Schools in context HERE (Chaffin speaking starts about 1:04:24) or cut to a YouTube clip that includes only that portion of the meeting HERE.

In a more recent meeting, unwilling to make a decision, the Stillwater School Board punted their duty of oversight to the state.

Watch out, Iowa

A Public Accommodations Provider’s Guide to Iowa Law pamphlet describes "Iowa Law...Effective July 1, 2007, the Iowa Civil Rights Act (Iowa Code Chapter 216) was expanded to add sexual orientation and gender identity to the list of protected classes." In this pamphlet the state of Iowa asserts itself into the topic of religion, allowing itself to determine what is a "bona fide" religious purpose. Explaining whether churches must follow the code on gender discrimination and such like, they write, "Where qualifications are not related to a bona fide religious purpose, churches are still subject to the law’s provisions. (e.g. a child care facility operated at a church or a church service open to the public)." Seriously? A church service that is open to the public is not a bona fide religious purpose?

See also:
Iowa Bureaucrats Force Trans Bathrooms On Churches, Forbid Non-PC Preaching -- "The American philosopher John Rawls...insisted people could not be free if other people refused to make them feel nice."

[Note: After I wrote this, someone pointed out that the pamphlet has been changed to read: "...unless the place of worship engages in non-religious activities which are open to the public. For example, the law may apply to an independent day care or polling place located on the premises of the place of worship." It is not clear when this change was made and if it is a response to complaints about the previous explanation. Iowa Code 216.7 Unfair Practices -- Accommodations or Services can be found HERE. It says "This section shall not apply to: a. Any bona fide religious institution with respect to any qualifications the institution may impose based on religion, sexual orientation, or gender identity when such qualifications are related to a bona fide religious purpose." The code does not say what the pamphlets say, either before or after the revision. The pamphlets reflect someone's interpretation and explanation of what the code means. Section 2a says the code does not apply to a "bona fide" religious institution related to a "bona fide" religious purpose. It leaves room for the state of Iowa stepping in to decide exactly what are "bona fide" religions engaged in "bona fide" purposes, and that is problematic.]

Targeting Target

• Target Steps Out in Front of Bathroom Choice Debate -- "Last week, Target announced on its website that it would allow transgender employees and customers to choose the restroom and fitting room that corresponded with their gender identities.
• ‘A danger to wives and daughters’: Petition to boycott Target over transgender-inclusive bathrooms claims growing support -- "...a man can simply say he “feels like a woman today” and enter the women’s restroom...even if young girls or women are already in there."
• Target Announces Senior Discount For Anyone Who Self-Identifies As Age 60 Or Older -- "It’s yet another bold display of progressive policies for the company, which confirmed it will now extend the generous discount based on “customers’ age identity,” which cashiers will trust each patron to disclose truthfully. This amends their previous, more conservative policy which only considered biological age and required valid identification as proof."

Follow up: Target CEO Responds to Transgender Bathroom Protests: 'Our Focus on Safety Is Unwavering' 

Someone noted, "With Target's new policy, it's unverifiable. You cannot verify a person's intent..." 

The article tells us that Target CEO Bryan Cornell insisted "that Target has no plans to reverse its bathroom policy." He defended the stance by comparing this issue to the African-American Civil Rights struggle in the 1960s. Every African-American -- and every thinking person -- ought to be outraged by this. How can anyone suggest and approve of such a comparison? The transgender issue is one going on (or not) in the minds of those affected, and cannot be verified. Racial identity is natural and is easily noticed. These are not the same thing.