The 3 - August 31, 2025

In 2021, the Legislature in the state of Arkansas passed the first in what has been known as a series of bills in over 25 states that would prevent gender transition surgeries and treatments to be performed on minors. A Washington Stand article laid out the timeline: even though the Arkansas bill known as the SAFE Act, standing for "Save Adolescents from Experimentation," was blocked by a federal judge, a ruling upheld by the 8th Circuit, it was the first volley in what became a movement.  The next year, Alabama passed its VCAP bill, which was temporarily tied up in court, but survived its challenge.

The U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in the Skrmetti case set the nationwide precedent that ultimately resulted in the Arkansas SAFE Act going into effect.  The Washington Stand article stated, "When the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit restored the Arkansas Save Adolescents from Experimentation (SAFE) Act..., it removed the last federal judicial block on state laws that protect minors from gender transition procedures. In so doing, it tied a bow in one of the few remaining loose ends from the nationwide movement that began almost four years ago."

In an encouraging development, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission released a report detailing efforts to protect religious freedom in the American workplace. The report opened up by stating:

For more than six decades, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has enforced Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits religious discrimination in the workplace. In the past 200 days of the Trump Administration, the EEOC has taken a series of enforcement actions to defend the religious liberty of American workers. These efforts span multiple industries and issues, including Covid-19 vaccine mandates, religious accommodations in general, and rising antisemitism in higher education.

EEOC Acting Chair Andrea Lucas is quoted as saying: "Title VII recognizes the reality that religious freedom is a fundamental right that transcends workplace policies,” adding, "Under my leadership, the EEOC is restoring evenhanded enforcement of Title VII—ensuring that workers are not forced to choose between their paycheck and their faith.” 

Lawmakers in several states have taken the bold step of requiring the 10 Commandments in public school classrooms, but federal judges have prevented these laws from being implemented.  The Washington Times reported recently: "A federal judge in Texas blocked school districts...from enforcing S.B. 10, which mandates a poster of the Ten Commandments be hung in every public school classroom."  The article noted, "U.S. District Judge for the Western District of Texas Fred Biery said the requirement could burden children and interfere with parents’ rights to raise their children according to certain religious beliefs."

Similar laws in Arkansas and Louisiana have been blocked in the federal courts.  The Times article related: "The states have said they’re not trying to promote religion but rather celebrate the centrality of the Ten Commandments themselves as history and as a critical source of legal authority in the American experiment."