Reflect on the impactful legacy of the late Dr. James Dobson, celebrated for his monumental contributions to Christian family values across America. This edition of Washington Watch revisits his significant influence, from founding the Family Research Council to championing life and religious freedom. Learn how his teachings continue to inspire today’s generation to stand firm in faith amid ongoing cultural battles. Don’t miss the engaging insights from experts committed to protecting and empowering our youth.
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from the heart of our nation’s capital in Washington, D.C., bringing compelling interviews, insightful analysis, taking you beyond the headlines and soundbites into conversations with our nation’s leaders and newsmakers, all from a biblical worldview. Sitting in for Tony is today’s host, Jody Heiss.
SPEAKER 16 :
Well, good afternoon and welcome to this special Labor Day edition of Washington Watch. I’m Jody Heiss, senior fellow here at the Family Research Council. Happy to be filling in for Tony today and glad to have you on board with us as well. All right, with a new school year underway, we wanted to make the focus of today’s program on our nation’s children. It’s certainly clear that the environment in today’s culture is a challenging one, probably most especially for our kids. And we’ll highlight some of those challenges today with guests who have been tracking what’s happening in schools at the state level. I’ll be sharing my recent interviews with Victoria Cobb from the Family Foundation of Virginia, as well as Angela Morabito from the Defense of Freedom Institute. And regardless of whether your children are in public school, private school or even homeschooled, they’ll certainly be facing challenges in a culture that’s fighting against our values. So we need to prepare them. And for that, I’ll share my recent interview with Dr. Jeff Myers from Summit Ministries, who, by the way, is out with a brand new book called Raising Gender Confident Kids. But first today, we want to start off the program by recognizing a man who devoted his life to helping children and families thrive. And that, of course, could be none other than the late Dr. James Dobson, who went home to be with the Lord last month. Dr. Dobson was certainly one of America’s most influential Christian leaders in the last half century. God certainly used him in a powerful way. He gave birth to give attention to so many ministries along the way, ministries like Focus on the Family, Alliance Defending Freedom, Family Policy Alliance, the Dr. James Dobson Family Institute. And of course, right here, the Family Research Council. In fact, Dr. Dobson was instrumental in the establishment and the growth of FRC. Well, two years ago, we marked the 40th anniversary here at FRC. And in celebration of that, Tony actually sat down with Dr. Dobson for a special interview. They talked about the events that led to the founding of the Family Research Council, including what around here now is a famous prayer meeting from which the resolve to establish FRC was formed. They also talked about the times in which we’re living today. And I want to share some of that conversation with you right now. Here’s how it all began.
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40 years ago, you were instrumental in the Family Research Council. Take us back and give us the origins of the beginning of the Family Research Council. How did it all start?
SPEAKER 12 :
Well, Tony, the history of the Family Research Council, that is one of the most coveted experiences of my life because it goes back to 1980 when President Jimmy Carter decided there was going to be a White House conferences on the family. So it was a very liberal conference. But I was invited to come and speak. And everybody else that spoke there came from a very liberal point of view, obviously. And I didn’t. And I spoke very differently than they did. The crowd was gracious. And afterward, James Guy Tucker, who was the director of the White House conferences came up to see me. He said, I want to tell you something. People like you who have professional degrees and have come from a different point of view, a major university, those people do not come to this city. They’re not invited here. So this is a rarity. And he said, this town ought to hear what you have to say because it is never heard here. And I went back. I had seven buddies. There were eight of us there that night. And I told them what he had said. And we had all agreed we have to change that. The voice of biblical truth as related to the family must be represented in this town. We got on our knees that night and prayed. And we asked the Lord to bless what we were going to try to do because it was not going to be easy. And that was the beginning of the Family Research Council. That’s what was organized that day.
SPEAKER 18 :
We look at the terrain today and we look at the journey that Christians engaged in public policy have been on. What do you see today?
SPEAKER 12 :
Well, you know, Tony, I have the long perspective because I was a professor of pediatrics at USC School of Medicine and Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles for 17 years. And I could have spent the rest of my life there. I could have enjoyed doing research and being in academia.
SPEAKER 18 :
And everybody loving you.
SPEAKER 12 :
Oh, it was nice.
SPEAKER 18 :
When you step out into this arena, not everybody likes what you have to say.
SPEAKER 12 :
Well, I walked into a buzzsaw, I can tell you that, because I left there to start focus on the family.
SPEAKER 18 :
And I’ll just say the country is so much better because you stepped into that buzzsaw.
SPEAKER 12 :
Well, you’re very kind. The first thing that hit was here in Colorado, there was Amendment 2. which became so controversial. I had just arrived in town. The gay activists there didn’t have anybody to blame for that loss from their point of view, and they decided to tear me up. We had the bloody animal parts brought to our door. I’m here, I’m a new guy in town coming out of medical school, not used to stuff like that. And they told lies about us, and it was really pretty difficult. It went all the way to the Supreme Court, and my point of view lost. We’ve lost most of the big battles along the way. And I think maybe things are changing now. The pastors seem much more aware of the battle that we’re in. We serve a big God, and we can’t give up.
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Speaking of that long game and that long view, on the issue of life, the sanctity of human life, and we took a lot of criticism for being involved in elections, electing pro-life candidates, pro-life presidents, but look where it’s led us to a point where we’ve, in our lifetime, we’ve seen the overturn of Roe v. Wade and an opportunity for the nation to get it right when it comes to the sanctity of human life.
SPEAKER 12 :
You know, I will admit to you, I never thought it would happen. I really didn’t have the faith to believe the court would awaken one day and say, this is wrong. We’ve got to change it. But it’s a marvelous thing that happened. And of course, the far left is still furious over this. And we still, it’s not, the battle’s not over. You know, there are 50 states out there that are going to have to deal with this issue. And so we’re to try to save this country from itself.
SPEAKER 18 :
So let’s talk for just a moment to the believers that, as you said, it’s becoming brutal. If you’re a Christian and you openly profess your faith and you live according to your faith, there’s some professions that are driving you out. It’s becoming more difficult to live out our faith, but that’s the very thing we should be doing. What do Christians need to be doing right now in this hour?
SPEAKER 12 :
standing firm. I think our country’s in great jeopardy. The things that are taking place right now are breathtaking to me. You know, there’s been no time in the history of this country except the Civil War when we have been so divided and there’s been so much hatred and so much wickedness and people calling good evil and evil good. We have got to be salt and light in a dark and stormy culture. When people say to me, especially Christian people and especially pastors who say, well, we don’t get into that because we’re not political. They’re bragging about not being political. It’s not political, it’s moral. We’re talking about killing babies. We’re talking about teaching five-year-olds, immorality on a daily basis in the public schools. We’re talking about things that would have been unconscionable a few years ago. We cannot give up. And we’ve got the Lord on our side. We can’t forget that. We’re not alone in this thing. The Lord has called us to a battle. He’s called us to fight with everything that we have.
SPEAKER 18 :
I know there’s been times of discouragement where things didn’t work out the way you thought they would or should. And I’m sure there was some temptations at times, maybe to step out of this arena and go where it was a little more friendly. What kept you at it?
SPEAKER 12 :
Tony, I never considered stepping away because I was called to this. My father told me right before he died that he had a vision of my reaching millions of people around the world. That was unheard of. That was crazy. How could one lone voice here have the opportunity to speak in China and Russia and India and other places around the world. There’s an anointing there. I don’t know how to explain it. I certainly don’t think I’m responsible for it. My job is just to be faithful and to hang in there. And I’m going to do that as long as I’ve got a voice. And today I don’t have much of a voice, but it’s craggy and I’m doing the best I can to talk over it. But we’re not going to give up as long as I’ve got breath in my body.
SPEAKER 18 :
Well, you’ve reached those millions, and you’ve done it well. And we’re grateful that you were never tempted to get out of the arena.
SPEAKER 12 :
You’re doing the same thing, Tony. You’ve had to face exactly the same issues that I have, and you’ve been faithful, too. And I guess that’s why I love you so much.
SPEAKER 18 :
Well, it’s mutual. Thank you.
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Well, that was Tony’s conversation in a sit-down interview in Colorado Springs with the late Dr. James Dobson, who went home to be with the Lord last month. Thank you so much for tuning in for this special edition of Washington Watch. You know, it can’t be overstated how big an impact Dr. Dobson had on our nation, on families, on individuals. It’s frequently said that a rising tide lifts all boats. And in so many ways, God used Dr. Dobson to raise the tide. He helped countless ministries to continue expanding the kingdom of God. Countless more lives have been changed for eternity’s sake because of the things that he was able to accomplish. I know in our family, we raised our daughters on the teachings and the instructions of Dr. Dobson and Adventures in Odyssey. In fact, very interesting, the day before Dr. Dobson died, I was in a conversation with a friend who told me that they listened. In fact, they fell asleep every single night listening to Adventures in Odyssey all the way up to when they went to college. But so many ministries, so many lives, thousands upon thousands, massively impacted and eternally changed because of the ministry of Dr. Dobson. We have family policy council groups all over the country that were inspired by the leadership of Dobson. Even the American Heritage Girls attribute Dobson as the catalyst that propelled their ministry forward. He’s also credited so frequently with the success and growth of the entire homeschool movement in America, which we ourselves were part of. So where do you stop saying a huge thank you, Lord, for giving us such a powerful leader as James Dobson? And so today we want to pause for a moment and genuinely give thanks to God for Dr. James Dobson, and we honor his ministry. May his life, the servant of God, inspire each of us to continue serving the Lord with all our heart. Glad to have you joining us for this special Labor Day edition of Washington Watch. Next, when we come back, we’ll be highlighting some battles that are taking place in schools at the state level. So stick around. We’ll be back in just a moment.
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Three years ago, the Supreme Court issued its historic Dobbs decision, a ruling that overturned Roe versus Wade, which for nearly 50 years imposed abortion on demand, silencing voters and bypassing the democratic process across the country. The Dobbs decision was a huge step forward against abortion, but it didn’t outright ban it. It returned the power to the people. Now, 29 states have laws on the books protecting life. However, there’s a catch. Abortion numbers since Dobbs have actually gone up with an increase of 12% since 2020, climbing from 930,000 to over 1 million in each of the most recent years. So how can this be? The answer is simple, the abortion drug. Today, over 60% of US abortions involve abortion drugs, many of these without medical oversight. In 2021, the Biden administration quietly removed bare minimum longstanding safety protocols for the abortion drug that have existed for 20 years to protect women from life-threatening risks and ensuring informed consent. The Biden DOJ then declared that they would not enforce the Comstock Act, which prevents the mailing of anything that causes an abortion. This is not only illegal, but also dangerous. A study shows nearly 11% of women who take the abortion drug end up in the emergency room with serious complications. Unless the Trump administration reverses these reckless Biden-era policies, pro-life laws will remain largely symbolic. Without a full review and repeal of Mifepristone, unborn lives will remain in grave danger and pregnant mothers will remain at risk. Let’s stand for life and end this mail-order abortion drug pipeline. Sign the petition urging the Trump administration to take action at frc.org slash stop chemical abortion.
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In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God, and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory. Family Research Council invites you to join our Stand on the Word Bible reading plan as we reflect upon the life of Jesus, the Word who dwelt among us. Come with us and discover the glory of the Word. Read the Gospels and witness the life-changing story of Jesus, His life, death, and resurrection. Come read how Jesus transformed the lives of common people and how those same people transformed the known world through the power of the Holy Spirit. Come with us for 10 to 15 minutes a day and read the entire New Testament before the new year. Find our Bible reading plan in daily devotionals from Tony Perkins at FRC.org slash Bible. Join us and stand on the word.
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Good afternoon and welcome back to Washington Watch. I’m Jody Heiss. Thanks so much for tuning in. Today, we’re re-airing some content that focuses on our nation’s children as a new school year is getting underway. In this next segment, we’ll highlight some of the challenges facing children in public schools and what the Trump administration is doing about it. Before we get to it, just a quick reminder, our PrayVote Stand Summit is taking place next month, October 17th and 18th in Chino Hills, California. I encourage you to learn more about it and to register. You can do both by going to PrayVoteStand.org. Also, real quickly, I want to encourage you, if you have not already done so, to download FRC’s Stand Firm app if you don’t already have it. To get it, go to the App Store or go to Google Play, wherever you get your apps. You can also simply text the word APP, text APP to 67742. All right, here’s my interview with the president of the Family Foundation of Virginia. We have five school districts now in Northern Virginia that will be stripped of federal funding because they’ve chosen to abide by woke gender ideology rather than federal law. Among them is Loudoun County Public Schools, which recently suspended two male teenage students for expressing discomfort with having a biological female in the boys’ locker room. Incredible. Well, with me now to talk more about these developments is Victoria Cobb. She’s the president of the Family Foundation of Virginia. Victoria, welcome back to Washington Watch. It’s great to see you.
SPEAKER 03 :
Thanks so much for having me.
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All right, let’s, if you would, go into more details about what happened to these two teenage students in Loudoun County.
SPEAKER 03 :
Yes, our legal arm, the Founding Freedoms Law Center, is representing technically three boys who were all investigated under a charge of sexual harassment because a girl decided to go into the boys’ locker room and record, cell phone record, these boys complaining about the fact that there is a girl in their locker room One of the boys was exonerated by the school district, and two have now been handed down a guilty punishment. They are expected to serve a suspension, 10-day suspension, and they have been given the assignment of working with the administration to create a plan of correction. So that’s what’s going on.
SPEAKER 16 :
So why was the girl not charged with sexual harassment for going in there to start with, but then going in there and videoing the whole thing? Why is it that the victims are the ones who are charged here and the one who’s really created the problem gets to walk?
SPEAKER 03 :
That’s exactly right. The boys did actually file a Title IX against the girl for being in their private space and recording them. The school district dismissed that effort. And then we know that that is a complete violation of a Loudoun County policy that one cannot videotape in a locker room. And to date, we know of no punishment for that activity that she did to start this whole mess.
SPEAKER 16 :
Wow. Well, of course, this is not the first incident that we’ve seen, even on getting national attention from this particular school district. What kind of history did they have?
SPEAKER 03 :
Well, this is just the thing. When you have bad policies, they create bad situations. So they have a terrible policy allowing biological boys and girls bathrooms and vice versa. And it started. We had the situation in this county where they actually had a sexual assault in a bathroom because a child used this policy to walk in and commit a crime. They also had a teacher that was fired, and we had to deal with that. That was a different organization that did the litigation there. But again, because he wasn’t willing to lie that a boy can become a girl and vice versa. But this idea that people stick to the truth, that they speak out, and that the county tries to come against them is just tragic. And parents are going to protect their kids in private spaces. They’re going to defend these boys’ rights to be in a locker room without a girl.
SPEAKER 16 :
Absolutely. It’s interesting, too, and I’d like for you to go into this with me if you can. While all this story was breaking, the U.S. Department of Education has now announced actions that it’s coming against Loudoun County Public Schools and for other schools, for that matter, in northern Virginia. Can you kind of lay out for us the details on that?
SPEAKER 03 :
Yeah, we’ve got five counties in Virginia. This one, Loudoun County, is one of them who are all refusing to comply with President Trump’s understanding and executive order of how Title IX should be interpreted. And that would require them in this county to undo this 80-40 policy that they have, this idea that boys can be in girls’ bathrooms and vice versa. And so they refuse to do that. And so it has come to the point where the Department of Education is saying they’re likely to revoke federal funds into these school districts. And even knowing that, the school districts are saying, thanks, but no thanks. Now, how Loudoun County has $100 million to spare and they can just sort of, you know, casually say we’re not interested, I have no idea because, you know, normally we hear the case where school districts are just pleading that they need more money, but apparently they are more wed to the woke ideology and to a false reality than they are to ensuring that kids get the proper education and receive the funds that the district needs.
SPEAKER 16 :
Yeah, I mean, that’s a great point that they are married to this whole woke ideology in spite of federal law and so forth going against it. What does this tell you about certainly with these these four school districts, but even what we’re seeing culturally, a willingness to just in your face violate the law?
SPEAKER 03 :
It really is remarkable, and I think the average American is stunned that we have gotten to the point where this delusion of transgenderism, that we can allow people to pretend that they are a sex that is not the biological sex that they were given by God, the fact that this delusion has gotten to the point and that we have entire school districts held hostage to this idea, and that they are willing to literally suspend children, fire teachers, and now reject federal funds, And everyone knows it’s not just a Loudoun County problem. Many people experience this in their counties all across the country. And parents know it’s not just these boys getting suspended. If it can happen to these boys, it can happen to their children. And so there really is a tide turning. Parents are finally coming out and saying, look, we’re not willing to abide this. And we are seeing movement on this issue.
SPEAKER 16 :
Well, Victoria Cobb, thank you for being one of those voices that is being loud and clear. President of the Family Foundation of Virginia, Victoria, thank you so much for joining us today on Washington Watch.
SPEAKER 03 :
Thanks for having me.
SPEAKER 16 :
Well, that was my recent interview with Victoria Cobb. Hope it was a powerful, powerful and inspiring interview for you to draw from. Thank you for tuning in today to this special Labor Day edition of Washington Watch. And we’ve got much more coming your way. After the break, we’re going to highlight four school districts in another state that have been accused of violating Title IX. And trust me, this is probably going to be a state that you would least expect. So you don’t want to miss it. Stick around. There’s still much more coming your way on Washington Watch.
SPEAKER 01 :
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At Family Research Council, defending the family isn’t just a mission, it’s our daily calling. Every team member at FRC uses their God-given talents to stand for biblical truth, protect life, and uphold religious freedom.
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Here at Family Research Council we face many threats to the family. Threats that have been with us for some time. Abortion, the gender ideology threat, the attacks on marriage, the attacks on parental authority, and the attacks on religious freedom. We have to promote, support, strengthen, and incentivize family growth so families take their place in society in a place of honor.
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I’m defending the family by working in the Center for Biblical Worldview to provide cutting-edge research and resources for pastors, ministry leaders, and Christian parents.
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Through my work at the Washington Stand, I passionately defend what God has defined for marriage and family. I don’t see the Washington Stand as just a place to talk about cultural events. It’s a place to share biblical truth with the perfect outlet to advance and defend what God has defined as good, true, and beautiful. Because of you, we’re able to frame things in such a way that help Christians stand for truth on the things that matter most, like life, faith, family, and freedom. Thank you for standing with us.
SPEAKER 17 :
Thank you for your support. It is so critical to the work that we at Family Research Council are doing day to day as we support and strengthen the family. So thank you.
SPEAKER 16 :
Welcome back to this special Labor Day edition of Washington Watch. Today, we’re re-airing some content that focuses on our nation’s children as a new school year gets underway. Now, in this next segment, we’ll share how one organization drew the attention of the Department of Education to four school districts in Kansas that have allegedly been violating Title IX. Here’s my interview with Angela Morabito from the Defense of Freedom Institute. Your organization has informed the Department Student Privacy Policy Office about these four different school districts. What brought all of that about? What brought issues to your attention?
SPEAKER 04 :
Sure, well, DFI is on the forefront of protecting Title IX from attacks from the left. And those attacks come from, in many cases, woke bureaucrats in the states who have decided that for some reason they believe Title IX is optional and that schools should keep secrets from parents. We know that is not true either morally or legally. So we hear from parents and folks in their communities. We also do our own research. But we file complaints all across the country, among our other work encountering the teacher unions and protecting education freedom. We filed this series of complaints against school districts and states that have decided to allow boys and girls sports and spaces And in this case, in these four districts in Kansas, they’ve decided that it should be school policy to not tell parents when a child rejects his or her own body.
SPEAKER 16 :
Wow. All right. So the complaints have come. I mean, you were there right in the middle of the complaints. Were these school districts notified previously of their violations? Did they receive previous complaints from parents or was it just y’all? How does this process develop?
SPEAKER 04 :
So the Department of Education has an Office for Civil Rights. And as a former Department of Education press secretary, it would be hard for me to overstate just how important that office is. We don’t have any way of knowing who else might have filed complaints, but we do know that Secretary McMahon credits the Defense of Freedom Institute in her press release announcing investigations into these four districts. So we know that the complaint we filed actually prompted the Department of Ed to take a very strong interest in this and to investigate whether or not the law is being followed and ultimately, we hope, bring these districts into compliance.
SPEAKER 16 :
Wow. Congratulations on that. That is huge. And listen, that just illustrates the point that as we speak up and expose things like this, that action happens. I mean, things happen when we are a voice and when we bring to light things that need to be brought to light. So thank you for doing that, and congratulations for being heard to this extent. Now, let me ask you this, Angela. Is there… Anything within any of these school districts in Kansas, is there anything, any loophole, any way whatsoever whereby they might be able to justify their failure to abide by the law as it relates to Title IX?
SPEAKER 04 :
I don’t believe so, because there are no loopholes in Title IX, and there aren’t really any loopholes in FERPA, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. Those laws are really clear about what schools’ obligations are to their students and to parents of minor children. So even when these districts’ policies sound a little bit wishy-washy, like, oh, we might involve a parent, or we’ll handle gender identity issues on a case-by-case basis, That right there is a problem because it violates Title IX, which says no discrimination on the basis of sex. That means doesn’t matter how you woke up feeling this morning, doesn’t matter your self-image or what you would like to be, matters who you are and how you were born. We’re working with biological reality. And until there are loopholes in that, I think these four districts are going to have a very hard time defending policies that just don’t add up.
SPEAKER 16 :
Very well said. So what does it communicate to you? What does it communicate to parents? When we see school districts, and I don’t know if you heard my previous guest from Virginia, they’re dealing with similar things, just outward defiance of the law. What are we turning into when we are watching one school district after another in different parts of our country thumb their nose at federal law And thumb their nose at parents and parental rights and just indoctrinate these kids with what they want to teach them. What is this communicating from a broader perspective, do you think?
SPEAKER 04 :
Well, it tells parents that they don’t matter and that schools have more authority over children than the parents do. That’s just wrong. It violates basic common sense, common decency. And in these cases, it also violates the law. But when we have investigations like this one from the Office for Civil Rights, it puts every district on notice. It signals to them, you can’t hide your misbehavior. We’re going to find these unlawful policies and we’re going to get them corrected. we’re either a nation of laws or we’re a nation of feelings i think the past administration wanted us to be a nation of feelings but there is thankfully a new sheriff in town who is saying if you want federal dollars you need to play by federal rules yeah and you would think that that would be listened to you would think so what do you anticipate is going to come from all of this shining of the light on these violations I love that you use the phrase shining the light because sunlight is the best disinfectant. And I think we’ll see that here. When I talk to people about this story in Kansas and similar stories in Northern Virginia, places like New York and California, the answer I get is like, Kansas? Really? And I say, yes, Kansas, really. Just because you live in a red state or even a red district does not mean that woke bureaucrats are not trying to break the law. So parents really cannot afford to ignore what’s going on in their children’s schools. They can’t afford to look away. This is something everyone needs to be aware of. And I look forward to seeing the results of the department’s investigation.
SPEAKER 16 :
That was Angela Morabito from the Defense of Freedom Institute during my recent interview with her. And you’re tuned into a special Labor Day edition of Washington Watch. Now, after the break, we’ll close out our program by sharing how we can help kids navigate the gender confusion we see not only in schools, but in our entire culture. So stick around.
SPEAKER 02 :
Family Research Council is committed to advancing faith, family, and freedom from the East Coast to the West. So FRC is going to Southern California for this year’s Pray, Vote, Stand Summit, October 17th and 18th at Calvary Chapel Chino Hills. Join us for this powerful gathering of Christians desiring cultural renewal and spiritual revival. The Pray, Vote, Stand Summit brings together Christian leaders, issue experts, and government officials for a time of prayer, inspiration, and action. Together, we will seek God’s guidance for our nation and engage in meaningful discussions on the intersection of faith, government, and culture. If the spiritual foundations and the cultural walls of our nation are to be rebuilt, we all have a role to play. May we each find our place on the wall as we build for biblical truth. Register now at PrayVoteStand.org. That’s PrayVoteStand.org.
SPEAKER 15 :
Jennifer, it’s so exciting to be here with you today talking about our new book, Embracing God’s Design. Who is actually going to benefit from reading this book in your view?
SPEAKER 05 :
There are so many different audiences that can benefit. The first one are counselors themselves, because we have some material in there where we really address the gender dysphoria diagnosis and what is wrong with it. We have information for people who are wanting to go back to embracing God’s design for their life.
SPEAKER 15 :
This is really magical to have the therapist and the individual who suffered come together and write about why this is happening and why we’re seeing this.
SPEAKER 05 :
And we brought all of that experience to the table. We want to see people walking in the fullness of who God has called them to be and not a false identity.
SPEAKER 15 :
Order today at embracethedesign.com.
SPEAKER 08 :
How should Christians think about the thorny issues shaping our culture? How should Christians address deceitful ideas like transgenderism, critical theory, or assisted suicide? How can Christians navigate raising children in a broken culture, the war on gender roles, or rebuilding our once great nation? Outstanding is a podcast from The Washington Stand dedicated to these critical conversations. Outstanding seeks to tear down what our corrupt culture lifts up with an aim to take every thought and every idea captive to the obedience of Christ. Whether policies or partisan politics, whether conflict in America or conflict abroad, join us and our guests as we examine the headlines through the lens of Scripture and explore how Christians can faithfully exalt Christ and in all of life follow outstanding on your favorite podcast app and look for new episodes each week
SPEAKER 16 :
Thank you so much for joining us today on Washington Watch. I’m your host, Jody Heiss, filling in today for Tony. We appreciate you tuning in for this special Labor Day edition. Well, as the new school year gets underway, we’ve been putting some focus today on our nation’s children. And we certainly hope that the content of today’s program inspires you not only to pray, but to take action. And we want to close out this special edition today. We’re going to share with you a recent interview that I had with Dr. Jeff Myers from Summit Ministries. In fact, he has a brand new book out called Raising Gender Confident Kids. So how can parents and mentors help kids navigate this gender confusion that we see not only in schools, but throughout our entire culture and society? Well, Dr. Myers, when he was on, had some great, great insights, and I want to share them with you right now. So here’s our conversation. Okay, as we go into our final segment and I bring in our special guests here, many in our audience, of course, are getting all geared up for a new school year. But with each new school year and with the promises that – each of those years hold for our children and grandchildren, we need to be mindful of our biblical responsibility as parents and grandparents and so forth to be the primary teachers and molders of our kids. Tony says it often that you can delegate authority of your child’s education, but you cannot delegate the responsibility. And yesterday we discussed right here on this program the disturbing story of a Fairfax County, Virginia public high school where apparently a social worker there facilitated an abortion. An abortion of a minor that took place in 2021. And obviously that was against state law and it was circumventing the parents. And Governor Glenn Youngkin also has ordered now a state police to open a full criminal investigation into all of that. But this case is not the only one. How do parents prevent these type of situations from arising in their children’s lives? Well, you can start by teaching your kids how to live with a biblical worldview, a worldview that shapes all aspects of their lives. And here now to share more is Dr. Jeff Myers. He’s the president of Summit Ministries. He’s also the author of many books. His newest, Raising Gender Confident Kids, Helping Kids Embrace Their God-Given Design. Dr. Jeff Myers, welcome back to Washington Watch. It’s always a privilege to have you.
SPEAKER 14 :
Jody, it’s great to be with you. It’s back to school starting on Monday for most people in the United States of America. They wonder what kinds of ideologies are my kids going to run into and how do I prepare them?
SPEAKER 16 :
Yeah, absolutely. So let me just start. I opened with this about what took place in 2021 in Fairfax County, Virginia, where a social worker evidently works a deal out to take a minor to have an abortion without the parents being aware of it. And what’s your thoughts of all this? How could parents have potentially changed this, do you think?
SPEAKER 14 :
Well, Jody, you mentioned the term worldview, and I know your listeners are very familiar, your viewers are very familiar with that term, but most people in the United States of America aren’t. They don’t realize that if you’re not operating from a Christian worldview, you are operating from some other worldview that either ignores the existence of God or discounts the existence of God as relevant. So a school like that is operating on the assumption that the parents are evil. They’re operating on the assumption that the parents do not have the best interests of the children in mind, that the children do not belong to the parents, the parents are not stewards of the children, the state is the steward of the children, and therefore the school can do whatever they want to the kids if it was just on the issue of abortion you might say that school needs to be brought up prosecuted justice needs to be done but it is quite literally half of these schools in the united states of america that are teaching for example gender ideology and trying to get children to believe that the god their parents told them about is either non-existent or not good and that they may have actually been born in the wrong body
SPEAKER 16 :
Yeah, it’s it’s stunning. So let’s let’s go down that path. I just mentioned that case with the social worker helping with abortion. So you have that and of course this is all happening just right here in our neighborhood around Washington DC. We had in Maryland. Public schools there did not think that parents should have the ability to opt their children out of story hours featuring LGBTQ themed books. And so we’ve got all these different types of things happening, not just around the DC area, but all across the country, as you’ve mentioned in the gender ideology. And we obviously have long promoted homeschooling, private schools, that type of thing, but not every parent can do that. So in those situations, seeing what we’re facing across the country, what can parents do better to protect their kids from these harmful values that are being pushed in so many public schools?
SPEAKER 14 :
Well, Jody, whenever parents ask me what do I do to help protect my kids from the culture, I do emphasize to them, even if your child does not go to a school that fights against your values, they are living in a culture that fights against your values. You homeschool your kids, you still go to the grocery store, they still go through the checkout line, they still see the bearded person walking down the aisle wearing high heels and a dress. they are going to face things that are happening in the culture. And there are three things you do. First thing is you do you do is to help them take every thought captive. See, as Christians, we start from the idea that God designed us. Therefore, every person has dignity. Nobody is a victim. We are victors over our circumstances. We treat every person with dignity, but we also recognize that there is a truth that God has given to us, and we need to discover what that is. So it’s take every thought captive. Second one is don’t be taken captive. Some 70% of young adults, by the time they reach their mid-20s, say, the ones that grew up in church say, I have been taken captive. I don’t believe. the biblical truth anymore. They were literally taken captive by hollow and deceptive philosophies. So you have to know what those philosophies are so you’re not taken captive. And then the third thing is, is to set the captives free. Everybody in your school does not embrace a biblical worldview is operating on some false ideology. We need to learn how to talk to them and help them come to a knowledge of the truth. as the apostle Paul told his disciple Timothy. So those three things, just keep them in mind. Take every thought captive. Don’t be taken captive. And set the captives free. We talk about the specifics of how to do that, but often it’s just conversation with your kids.
SPEAKER 16 :
I love that. I love that. And maybe we can talk a little bit about it because through Summit Ministries, I mean, you’ve developed, as you just mentioned, tremendous insight into the youth of America over the years. And certainly you’ve kept on top of what’s happening right now. So what would you say are some of the greatest challenges that they’re facing today?
SPEAKER 14 :
Well, Jody, we kind of hinted at this, and in the bumper I saw that everybody else saw who’s watching the show, it hinted at this as well. The transgender ideology is probably the number one ideology young adults are going to be facing in school this fall. They’re going to be told that there is a gender spectrum, and on one end is extreme masculinity, on the other end is extreme femininity. everybody you know it’s it’s either GI Joe or Barbie and since nobody is really either GI Joe or Barbie we’re all kind of in the middle we’re all transgender maybe you’re even born in the wrong body I talked to a grandmother recently She said, yeah, I raised all of my kids in the church. We took them to Christian camp. She’s very involved in the Christian ministry. She said, five of my 13 grandchildren now identify as transgender. Stephanie and I were having dinner with a family recently. Their daughter said, I had to switch to a new school. And we asked why? She said, because I was the only girl left in my class. What do you mean you’re the only girl left in your class? She said, all the other girls in my class decided they were boys trapped in girls’ bodies. So they decided to transition to be boys. Your kids are going to face this ideology. And that’s why my co-author, Dr. Kathy Cook, who’s an educational psychologist, and I wrote Raising Gender Confident Kids. All you have to do, and I know it’s late in the day or it’s Friday night, go to genderconfidentkids.com. And we will show you how to, in a very natural way that builds a relationship with your children, bring up these difficult issues and help them come to a knowledge of the truth. and for Washington Watch members or everybody who’s watching, you can get a copy of our book for free. We’ve had a donor who’s been able to provide that, the book you showed earlier, Raising Gender Confident Kids. Just go to genderconfidentkids.com, and you can get all of the information there. We don’t have to be afraid, but we do need to be equipped.
SPEAKER 16 :
That is awesome. All right, and you’ve mentioned the phrase gender confidence. Go a little bit deeper into that. What is gender confidence, and why does it matter so much that kids have it?
SPEAKER 14 :
Well, the very first thing we know about human beings, according to Genesis chapter one, is that God made them in his image. The second thing we know from that very same verse is that God made them male and female. God designed us as males and females. Our biology is male or female. There are not one or two differences between males or females. There are literally 6,500 cataloged differences between males and females. So gender confidence means for boys understanding god designed you as a boy you do you can be a boy who plays the violin or you can be a boy who plays football it doesn’t matter but god made you as a boy and he wants to grow you into a godly man and for girls that god made them on purpose as a girl They could be a helicopter pilot like my daughter, or they could be doing, you know, and dancing or whatever, but they have been made in God’s image. They are a girl and God wants them to grow and to be ungodly woman. So that’s what we mean by gender confidence. Now, what kids are being told in school is that there aren’t two genders, male or female. There’s 68 different genders and everybody is to one degree or another messed up. And if you are messed up, then you’re a victim of the culture. And we’re going to celebrate you being messed up by rolling a red carpet down the hallway and playing music when you come out as transgender or whatever happens to be. Literally 50% of the schools in the United States of America are doing this with your kids this fall.
SPEAKER 16 :
Unbelievable. Horrifying. So what is behind this? What’s behind the explosion of gender confusion in today’s kids and how can parents respond to it?
SPEAKER 14 :
Well, it’s an ideology, I think, first of all. If you wanted people to believe that there is no God or that God is irrelevant to anything that is important, then you have to somehow tear down all of the categories of meaning that make them think about God. And the most obvious of those is that we’re made male or female. We could argue about what constitutes justice or truth or freedom. People argue about those kinds of things all the time, but male or female, that’s super obvious. But if you want to tear down God, you have to get rid of male and female. And so that is the pressure that is being placed on children these days, not be with facts or evidence, but with a bias based on a false worldview. So I think a lot of people don’t realize that we train our kids to not be bullies. We don’t want our kids to be the mean ones in school. We tell them if you see somebody being picked on, you need to stand up for them. What we didn’t realize is that our efforts to help our kids be kind have been now weaponized by people with a false view of the world who want to tear down any understanding of truth. I mean, after all, if you can get a little kids to look at a boy or girl and say they can’t tell a difference, then you can propagandize them to believe anything.
SPEAKER 16 :
Wow. So what are the most common, and I want to get back to the book, but what are some of the most common mistakes that parents make when they’re trying to navigate this whole topic of gender and gender identity? And what perhaps are some of the warning signs that parents need to look at that perhaps their children are struggling with this?
SPEAKER 14 :
Yes, let me see if I can click through a few of the mistakes that parents make. But let me also say this. Don’t beat yourself up if you say, oh, I’ve done that with my child. This is not about guilt or shame. This is about what do we do now going forward? One thing parents do that I think is a mistake is they dismiss this concern. They don’t realize that it’s a big issue. But young adults today are 1,600% more likely than people in their 50s or older to say that they identify as transgender. Jodi, up to 39% of young people say they identify as LGBTQ. So if you just say, oh, that’s so stupid, and you dismiss it, you will miss an opportunity for a conversation. Second thing parents do that’s a mistake is to try to debate with their kids. You’re not going to win the debate. Your child’s just going to go to Google. They’re going to Google the word transgender. The very first page, in fact, the first five pages of results are all going to be things like, you know, transgender groups saying, we’re going to tell you the facts about transgender. None of which is true, but they’re saying that it’s factual. There’s going to be a website there with a law firm to help you legally separate from your parents if they don’t approve of your gender identity. There’s gonna be organizations there to show you how to get cross-sex hormones without your parents knowing about it. Your children are gonna see all those websites. You’re gonna lose the debate. What do you do instead? What do you do instead?
SPEAKER 16 :
Yeah, we got to be quick. We got about a minute and I want to pick folks to be able to get your book.
SPEAKER 14 :
Okay, this is pretty straightforward. You just look for the changes in your child. If they come home and they’re a little bit down, you want to ask them, can you tell me what happened to you today that causes you to see yourself the way you do? And when they talk, JUST START ASKING, CAN YOU TELL ME MORE ABOUT THAT? YOUR AFFIRMING OF THE RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR CHILD AND HELPING THEM UNDERSTAND THAT GOD MADE THEM IN HIS IMAGE IS WHAT MAKES THE DIFFERENCE.
SPEAKER 16 :
Dr. Jeff Myers, thank you so much. All right, our viewers, listeners to Washington Watch, you can get a free copy of this book. Dr. Myers, where can they go to get this?
SPEAKER 14 :
Just go to genderconfidentkids.com. You’ll find the book. You’ll find a frequently asked questions of the 24 hardest questions parents have ever asked us about the transgender issue and how to help your kids. You’re also going to find videos from my co-author, Dr. Kathy Cook, and myself. We want to help you help your kids and to feel confident in the process.
SPEAKER 16 :
All right, Raising Gender Confident Kids. Friends, order a copy. Go get it right now. Dr. Jeff Myers, Summit Ministries, thank you so much for your biblical insights. It’s always an honor to talk with you, my friend. Well, that’s all we have for today. Thank you so much for tuning into this Labor Day edition of Washington Watch. Before we take it off the air, let me just give you this reminder real quickly. PrayVoteStand, that summit is coming up next month in Chino Hills, California, October 17th and 18th. I want to encourage you to learn more about it and to go register. Go to PrayVoteStand.org. And then also, if you don’t already have it, I want to urge you to get our StandFirm app. It has so much information for you. This program, Stand on the Word, we’ve got so much available there for you. You can go to the App Store. You can go to Google Play, wherever you get your apps. You can also simply text APP. to 67742. Hope you’ve gotten a lot out of today’s program. Hope you’ve been inspired as you’re in the battle for our children. Be sure to come back again tomorrow for Washington Watch. Until then, keep the torch ablaze.
SPEAKER 10 :
Washington Watch with Tony Perkins is brought to you by Family Research Council and is entirely listener supported. Portions of the show discussing candidates are brought to you by Family Research Council Action. For more information on anything you heard today or to find out how you can partner with us in our ongoing efforts to promote faith, family, and freedom, visit TonyPerkins.com.
