On Monday, President Donald Trump addressed his Religious Liberty Commission at the Museum of the Bible in Kentucky. Trump spoke of his plans to not only defend the religious freedoms on which the nation was founded, but he also unveiled initiatives to champion and encourage prayer, including issuing new guidance on protecting the right to pray in public schools.
Read More: Trump Gets Standing Ovation With Major Announcement to Protect Prayer in Schools
In a powerful address at the Museum of the Bible, President Donald J. Trump emphasized the enduring role of faith in America’s identity, highlighted his Administration’s unwavering defense of faith-based values, and reaffirmed his commitment to protecting our religious freedoms. The President also launched the America Prays initiative — a call for Americans to unite in prayer for the nation’s strength, peace, and prosperity as the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence approaches.
Trump also invited 12-year-old Shea Encinas, a San Diego boy who became embroiled in a religious liberty issue at his elementary school. Encinas shared his experience and emphasized why defending religious freedoms is so critical.
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RedState covered the Encinas lawsuit in May, when a request by parents for their children to opt out of gender indoctrination was denied by the school. First Liberty took up their case.
Carlos and Jenny Encinas’ children attended an elementary school in Encinitas, California, where their [by now] eleven-year-old’s teacher read a book and required activities that conflict with their sincerely held religious beliefs. The book, My Shadow is Pink, is about promoting different gender identities. After reading the book, the Encinas’ son was forced to watch a video version with a five-year-old as part of a “mentoring” program before leading an activity where he had to direct his kindergarten buddy to decide what color he wanted his shadow to be. The school wrongfully denied the family’s request to opt-out.
The United States District Court for the Southern District of California granted First Liberty's motion for preliminary injunction, which forced the Encinitas Union School District to provide notification and opt-outs to parents and students when subjected to promotion of gender ideology in these so-called “buddy classes.” According to First Liberty, the school district has filed an appeal.
Dive Deeper: CA District Court Judge Issues a Preliminary Injunction Giving Parents a Gender Indoctrination Opt-Out
Supreme Court Upholds Right of Parents to Opt Their Kids Out of LGBTQ-Themed Classroom Activities
Bravo to Shea Encinas for not only articulating his story so well, but also representing how a foundation of faith is not only critical in a young person's life but is worth defending. This gender ideology battle is being fought across the nation, and not just in deep blue places like California. Red states like Alabama, Georgia, Virginia, and Nebraska are also battling with their schools on this issue. The gender cult is insidious, and it takes courageous young people like Shea Encinas, as well as parents of faith, rising up to defeat its advance.
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