(SRN NEWS)- ) A group of Democratic attorneys general has filed a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s requirement that states must recognize that male and female are the only two immutable sexes. Last year the Department of Health and Human Services informed states that they must certify compliance with President Trump’s executive order if they […]
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(SRN NEWS)-
) A group of Democratic attorneys general has filed a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s requirement that states must recognize that male and female are the only two immutable sexes. Last year the Department of Health and Human Services informed states that they must certify compliance with President Trump’s executive order if they want to receive federal health, education and research funds. The states are asking a federal court to block HHS from enforcing the new conditions. The attorneys general involved in the lawsuit are from 12 states including California, Illinois, New York and Oregon.
( ) The FBI says an arson suspect has admitted to targeting a historic Mississippi synagogue this past weekend because it is a Jewish house of worship. Stephen Pittman, who is 19-years-old, has been charged with maliciously damaging or destroying a building by means of fire or an explosive. Security camera footage at Beth Israel Congregation in Jackson showed a masked and hooded person using a gas can to pour a liquid on the floor and a couch in the building’s lobby. Attorney General Pam Bondi says she has instructed prosecutors to seek “severe penalties”. Anti-Semitic attacks have been on the rise in the U.S. for several years.
( ) New York Attorney General Letitia James has reached a settlement with a Jewish group that she accused of trying to intimidate pro-Palestinian activists. The group, Betar US, gained attention last year after claiming it had compiled the names of campus protesters against Israel and submitted them to the Trump administration. It used facial recognition software to identify masked activists. Group leader Ron Torossian (tor-OH-see-an) makes no apologies saying “You have people walking the streets vowing to murder Jews.” While Betar does not admit guilt, it has agreed to cease activities that the attorney general deems threatening.
( ) Legal experts say the Supreme Court seems likely to uphold state laws barring males from playing on female sports teams in school. During arguments this week, at least five of the six conservatives on the nine-member court indicated they’ll rule that the laws don’t violate either the Constitution or the landmark Title Nine statute designed to protect womens’ sports. Lower courts ruled in favor of transgender athletes in Idaho and West Virginia who challenged the state bans. A high court ruling for West Virginia and Idaho would effectively apply to the other two dozen Republican-led states with similar laws.