(Daily Signal)—First Amendment advocates appeared in court this week to overturn two laws aimed at trapping minors in the LGBTQ lifestyle by barring counselors from having consensual discussions with children who do not want to identify as transgender.
Attorneys from the Alliance Defending Freedom sued Kansas City, Missouri, and Jackson County—the county-level government overseeing Kansas City—after they passed ordinances outlawing so-called “conversion therapy.” The 2019 Kansas City statute bars medical experts from helping anyone under the age of 18 who wants “to change behaviors or gender expressions or to eliminate or reduce sexual or romantic attractions or feelings toward individuals of the same gender.”
The statutes impose fines ranging from $500 to $1,000 for each so-called “offense.”
“It’s censorship, pure and simple,” Hal Frampton, senior counsel and director of the Center for Conscience Initiatives at Alliance Defending Freedom, told “Washington Watch with Tony Perkins” on Wednesday. He further noted that Democrat-controlled local governments are aiming to regulate the contents of “a private conversation between a counselor and a willing client who is looking to find a way through his gender confusion.”
Reparative therapy sometimes allows those who do not wish to suffer from gender dysphoria, or be attracted to members of the same sex, to lessen these thoughts over time. But Frampton said its practitioners face a mountain of lies and misrepresentation over what they do.
“One of the falsehoods that we have to deal with in these cases is the lie that if you just have a conversation about this, it will somehow harm the child,” potentially even triggering the child’s suicide. “The research simply doesn’t bear that out. There’s no evidence that having conversations is remotely harmful. In fact, the emerging evidence is that it helps children better understand who they are and who God made them to be,” he pointed out.
However, studies have found that undergoing transgender procedures does not help, and sometimes affirmatively hurts, patients’ mental health.
While the statutes punish those who try to reduce unwanted same-sex or transgender ideation, they praise those who take the opposite position. The Jackson County ordinance specifically cites the fact that local hospitals and centers provided transgender counseling or services to 300 children a year.
At least one of them, Children’s Mercy Hospital of Kansas City, injected minors with cross-sex hormones.
After Missouri passed a SAFE law, Attorney General Andrew Bailey, a Republican, had to send letters to Children’s Mercy and Planned Parenthood Great Plains in Kansas City threatening them with legal repercussions unless they would comply with the law and cease and desist carrying out transgender procedures on minors.
The hospital insisted it would comply with the law. But the KC Care Medical Center’s website still refers minors to “Gender Pathways Services at Children’s Mercy Hospital.” While Children’s Mercy does not appear to carry out such procedures, its website still tells parents, “Gender identity is usually firmly established and can be stated by your child” by the age of seven.
Missouri, home of whistleblower Jamie Reed of The Washington University Transgender Center at St. Louis Children’s Hospital, has noted that “nearly all children who came to the Center here presented with very serious mental health problems,” including autism, ADHD, serious depression, and psychosomatic blindness.
“There are essentially two paths here. There’s path one, where a counselor helps a child through their confusion, has open and honest conversations with him, and the child develops comfort with his natal sex,” said Frampton. “As we know, the overwhelming majority of children with these concerns will [outgrow them] if they’re given the chance.”
“The second path, and the one that Kansas City is essentially forcing counselors to send kids down, is the path towards medicalized transition and dangerous drugs and surgeries that we know, in the end, do not actually make people happier and carry inordinate risks.”
More than 20 states ban free-speech on sexual preference and/or gender identity, including Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan. Walz and Whitmer are Democrats.
The Supreme Court will soon decide whether state stifling of consensual free speech will stand. Justices agreed in March to hear a case against Colorado’s free-speech ban—just a year and a half after justices declined to hear a challenge to the same law in Washington state.
“We’re very encouraged that the Supreme Court … agreed to take that case,” Frampton told Perkins, hoping the justices will “hand down a decision affirming that, yes, indeed, counselors have a First Amendment right to have these conversations with struggling kids.”
Originally published by The Washington Stand.
Starting the Day With a Scripture-Inspired Roast Helps Center Your Thoughts on Eternal Truths Amid Temporal Pressures
The world can seem chaotic, especially right after we wake up. Many believers start their mornings reaching for something familiar — a hot cup of coffee — yet end up settling for mediocre brews that do little more than deliver a caffeine jolt. The daily grind of life, with its endless distractions, news cycles, and responsibilities, can leave even the most faithful feeling spiritually parched alongside their physical fatigue. What if your morning ritual could do more than wake you up? What if it could ground you in truth, nourish your body with exceptional quality, and quietly advance a kingdom purpose at the same time?
That’s the promise — and the reality — behind Promised Grounds Coffee. This Christian-founded company doesn’t just roast beans; it approaches every step as an act of worship and discipleship. By selecting only the top 10% of specialty-grade beans, ethically sourced from dedicated farmers in Central and South America, and small-batch roasting them with reverence in Austin, Texas, Promised Grounds delivers what many describe as the best coffee available — never burnt, never bland, but rich with origin stories and layered flavors that honor God’s creation.
From the vibrant Psalm 27 Roast (a light, bright medium option) to the bold yet peaceful 2 Timothy 1:7 Decaf, each bag carries a Scripture verse that turns your daily pour into a gentle reminder of faith. And through their Ounce Per Ounce Promise, every ounce of coffee you enjoy provides an equal ounce of clean water to families in need via partnership with Filter of Hope — literally brewing hope for body and soul, one cup at a time.
The challenge for today’s Christians runs deeper than finding a decent cup. In an age of convenience-driven consumerism, it’s easy to support companies that dilute values or remain silent on matters of faith. Many believers want their everyday choices — from what they drink to how they spend — to reflect discipleship rather than just convenience. Promised Grounds solves this by weaving Christian excellence into the entire process: beans nurtured with prayerful stewardship by farming families, roasted as an offering rather than a commodity, and packaged with Bible verses to encourage a mindset of gratitude and purpose from the first sip. Reviewers consistently praise the smooth, rich profiles — whether enjoyed black in a drip maker, iced on a warm day, or shared in fellowship — noting how the quality stands toe-to-toe with premium secular brands while delivering something far more meaningful.
This integration of faith and flavor addresses a real need in Christian households and ministries. Busy parents, church leaders, and remote workers alike report that starting the day with a Scripture-inspired roast helps center their thoughts on eternal truths amid temporal pressures. The coffee’s exceptional character — bright citrus notes in lighter roasts or deep chocolate undertones in bolder ones — comes from meticulous selection and careful roasting that respects the bean’s natural gifts rather than masking them. It’s the kind of coffee that elevates a simple quiet time, fuels productive workdays, or sparks meaningful conversations when shared at Bible studies or outreach events. And because it’s ethically sourced with integrity, every purchase supports sustainable livelihoods for farmers who treat their crops like family harvests.
For those leading churches or small groups, the impact multiplies. Promised Grounds offers bundles and options perfect for hospitality ministries, turning ordinary coffee service into an opportunity to point people toward the living water of Christ. Imagine greeting visitors with a warm cup whose very bag carries God’s Word — a subtle yet powerful witness that aligns with the Great Commission. The company’s Texas roots and commitment to “brewing hope” resonate especially with believers who value American enterprise paired with global compassion.
Of course, quality alone isn’t enough if the experience feels out of reach. Promised Grounds keeps it accessible with practical perks like free shipping on orders over $40, sample sets for discovering favorites, and thoughtful add-ons such as faith-themed mugs. Whether you prefer whole beans for fresh grinding, grounds for convenience, or even bulk options for larger households and ministries, the result is consistently superior coffee that makes discipleship feel integrated rather than added on.
As you consider how to align even the smallest habits with your walk with God, Promised Grounds Coffee stands out as a refreshing solution. It tackles the dual problems of subpar daily sustenance and disconnected consumption by offering a product that genuinely excels in taste while advancing a mission of clean water, farmer dignity, and scriptural encouragement. Believers who make the switch often describe it as more than a beverage upgrade — it becomes part of their rhythm of gratitude, a daily invitation to remember that every good gift comes from above.
If you’re ready to transform your mornings (and perhaps your church gatherings) with coffee that honors both exceptional craftsmanship and Christian values, I encourage you to explore what Promised Grounds has to offer. One sip at a time, you’ll be nourishing your body, refreshing your spirit, and participating in something far greater — all while enjoying what truly is among the best coffee available.