Recap: HLS Healthcare Day

Every year the Hoosier Leadership Series devotes one class to focusing on the issue of healthcare in Indiana. It gives students an opportunity to take a deeper look at the realities of the healthcare industry from a doctor’s perspective and also examine the issues at a macro level, seeing how dollars are spent by the state.

This year, “Healthcare Day” was held at the end of June. Students heard from speakers on a wide range of topics – from how the legislature is attempting to manage healthcare costs for consumers, to hearing about how to help children who mistakenly believe they are transgender.

Five speakers were featured throughout the course of the class, including doctors, state officials, and healthcare directors. IFI was honored to have Dr. Dan Stock, the Indiana physician who went viral during COVID for calling out the nonsensical rules early on, speak to the class during this one-day event. Following his opening remarks, we heard from Leah Wilson, Executive Director of Stand for Health Freedom, on the pitfalls, trends, and advocacy opportunities in the healthcare industry.  

Class members also had the unique opportunity to hear from a parent who successfully navigated pulling their child from the perils of “transitioning” genders. Following her insightful testimony, I personally spoke to the class about IFI’s efforts at the Statehouse on this deeply important issue, such as the passing of SB 480, the “Help, Not Harm” bill, which prohibits doctors from performing gender “transition” procedures on minors, including puberty blocking drugs, cross-sex hormones, and surgery.

HLS students also continued their leadership training that delves into their individual strengths under the direction of B23 Strategies.

This HLS class was informative, convicting, and encouraging, and we’re extremely grateful to all those who took time out of their busy schedule to be with us, including State Representative Donna Schaibley and Joel Noble, Director of Public Policy for Samaritan Ministries.

As always, we are incredibly grateful for our sponsors, who help make the Hoosier Leadership Series possible: B23 Strategies, Vertical Immersive, Americans for Prosperity, Adler Law Firm, Ash and Oak, and Samaritan Ministries.

If you’re interested in taking part in next year’s Hoosier Leadership Series, you can apply here, or email HLS Director Valerie Swack with any questions: valerie@hoosierfamily.org. This class is an excellent way to learn how to apply your faith in a more effective way within the public square. We highly encourage you to consider participating next year!

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Queer Magic?

Last week, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) sent out an email celebrating “Pride Month” with their new line of merchandise, prominently featuring hats, stickers, and posters with the phrase “Queer Magic” – whatever that is. Take a look below:

As you know, the ACLU is just one of many organizations and institutions who are trying very hard to force us to conform to the sin of this world. There are very few organizations like Indiana Family Institute who boldly and openly stand for biblical truth in love to a broken and perverse culture. Right now is the perfect time for each of us to take a closer look at where we’re spending our money and whether those organizations support or defy God’s Word. Perhaps it’s time for us to change the focus of our charitable giving before our country is known more for “Queer Magic” than being the land of the free and the home of the brave.

If you’re tired of seeing our culture promote and invest in the wickedness of the LGBT agenda, please consider backing IFI in our efforts to promote biblical values in the public square. It is not an easy fight, and we need your support.

Click here to donate today!

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Recap: Hoosier Leadership Series’ Statehouse Day

6/5/24

Last month, the Hoosier Leadership Series met at the Indiana Statehouse to get a behind the scenes look at Governance – the theme of the class. The agenda was packed with interesting and educational speakers, from Comptroller Elise Nieshalla, who welcomed the class and explained Indiana’s unique financial situation, to Graham Renbarger, the Legislative Director for Indiana’s division of Americans for Prosperity, who spoke about accountability and vision in the legislative process.

The day also included an exercise in learning how a bill really becomes a law, and exploring the nuances of passing a bill even with a supermajority. B23 Strategies led the class in a leadership assessment where class members were invited to explore more about their leadership styles, which they will continue to build on throughout the course at each monthly meeting. 

To wrap up an excellent day, Senator John Crane gave the class a behind the scenes look at the Indiana Senate, how governance actually happens, and talked more about the importance of strong leadership. 

As always, we are incredibly grateful for our sponsors, who help make the Hoosier Leadership Series possible: B23 Strategies, Vertical Immersive, Americans for Prosperity, Adler Law Firm, Ash and Oak, and Samaritan Ministries.

If you’re interested in taking part in next year’s Hoosier Leadership Series, you can apply here, or email HLS Direct Valerie Swack with any questions: valerie@hoosierfamily.org. This class is an excellent way to learn how to apply your faith in a more effective way within the public square. We highly encourage you to consider participating next year!

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AG Rokita tells Indiana schools to ignore Title IX update

5/30/24

Indiana schools have been advised to ignore a recent change made by the Biden administration to Title IX, a nondiscrimination mandate meant to protect women from sex-based discrimination and harassment in sports and academia.

Title IX was established in 1972 to hold educational institutions accountable and provide legal protections for women who have experienced different forms of discrimination, such as: “sex-based harassment; sexual violence; pregnancy discrimination; the failure to provide equal athletic opportunity; sex-based discrimination in a school’s science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) courses and programs; discriminatory application of dress code policies and/or enforcement; and retaliation.”

The Biden administration used this important statute meant to protect women to redefine “sex” in federal law – the implications of which are vast and concerning. In the Title IX update, the Department of Education took the liberty of interpreting “sex” to mean “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” rather than biological reality. The term “gender identity” was inserted into the statute more than 280 times.

Because of this alteration, men who say they are women can now claim the Title IX protections that have been in place for decades to protect women and girls from the very real threat of discrimination and harassment in historically male-dominated spaces such as sports and academia. Thanks to the increasingly woke agenda in the education system, Title IX is needed now more than ever to protect women who have been disadvantaged by men pretending to be women.

“Congress intended Title IX to prevent discrimination against girls and women,” Attorney General Todd Rokita said. “The point was to encourage increased participation by girls and women in middle school, high school and college athletics. Now leftists are trying to twist Title IX to codify the very kind of anti-woman prejudice and discrimination this law was originally intended to remedy.” (emphasis added)

Here at IFI, we are committed to protecting girls and women in sports and pushing back against federal overreach. We’re thankful to have an attorney general who shares those same values and isn’t afraid to fight back against the Department of Education’s illegitimate Title IX rewrite. We know their unlawful override of this important statute will not stand in court.

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