NATIONAL WOMAN’S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION
2024 RESOLUTIONS
The members of the Resolution Committee, assembled at the Berlin Grande Hotel on August 5th-7th, 2024 for the National Woman’s Christian Temperance Union’s Sesquicentennial Celebration, present the following resolutions for your thoughtful consideration and subsequent action.
PROTECTION OF CHILDREN – SOCIAL MEDIA
WHEREAS, up to 95% of young people ages 13-17 use social media and more than a third use social media almost constantly;
WHEREAS, a critical stage in brain development occurs during childhood making them more vulnerable to harms, such as, loss of valuable in-person time with family and friends, loss of sleep, and exposure to violent and sexual content;
WHEREAS, the United States Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy stated that there are ample indicators that social media can pose a risk of harm to mental health and well-being and urged specific actions; therefore,
RESOLVED: that members follow Dr. Vivek Murthy recommendations -
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Establish tech-free zones that better foster in-person relationships
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Teach youth about responsible online behavior, including being careful about sharing personal information
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Tell youth to reach out if they or a friend needs help or see harassment or abuse
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Set time limits, block unwanted content
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Report problematic content and activity
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Support the Surgeon General’s efforts to include warnings on social media
PROTECTION OF TRANSGENDER YOUTH
WHERE AS, according to Scripture, “God created mankind, he made them in the likeness of God. He created them male and female and blessed them” Genesis 5:2;
WHERE AS, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) – National Library of Medicine, states that sex determination is strictly chromosomal, the female is XX and the male is XY;
WHEREAS, the first principle of health care is to do no harm;
WHEREAS, Dr. Paul R. McHugh, Distinguished Service Professor of Psychiatry, said transgender people have a “mental disorder” that needs to be treated and that sex reassignment surgery is biologically impossible;
WHEREAS, the suicide rate among transgender people who have undergone gender reassignment surgery is twenty times higher than the suicide rate among non-transgender people;
WHEREAS, studies that showed 70-80% of children who had expressed transgender feelings spontaneously lost those feelings over time;
WHEREAS, an important duty of lawmakers is protecting citizens’ health and safety and gender-transition procedures are often irreversible, may even remove healthy external or internal organs and body parts; therefore,
RESOLVED: that members support lawmakers and legislation that would protect youth suffering from gender dysphoria from life-altering, dangerous puberty-blocking medications and gender-reassignment surgery.
PROTECTION OF FEMALES IN SPORTS
WHERE AS, According to NIH - National Center for Biotechnology Information, “Male physiology underpins their better athletic performance including increased muscle mass and strength, stronger bones, different skeletal structure, better adapted cardiorespiratory systems, and early developmental effects on brain networks that wires males to be inherently more competitive and aggressive;”
WHEREAS, females deserve an equal opportunity in sports and biological males participating in women’s sports deprive women of equal opportunities
WHEREAS, females should have the right to privacy in safe single-sex private areas, including locker rooms and bathrooms; therefore,
RESOLVED: that members support legislation and policies that would protect single-sex private areas for females, and
BE IT ALSO RESOLVED: members support legislation and policies that would ban males from participating in woman’s sports.
VOTING
WHEREAS, with all elections, the 2024 election is important and the outcome will impact your everyday life and the life of your family;
WHEREAS, your vote could sway the outcome in local elections and put someone in power who will work to put your values into local policy and law;
WHEREAS, elected officials will determine where your tax dollars are allocated;
WHEREAS, your vote should be protected by laws that prohibit ineligible persons from casting a ballot;
WHEREAS, the outcome of an election often depends on eligible voters showing up to vote; therefore,
RESOLVED: that members careful consider the positions of candidates running for office when determining who to vote for, and
BE IT ALSO RESOLVED: that members support legislation that would prevent voter fraud;
BE IT ALSO RESOLVED: that members vote and encourage others who are eligible to vote to do so.
COMMENDATION
WHERE AS, Riley Gaines is a leader defending women’s single-sex spaces, advocating for equality and fairness, and standing up for women’s safety, privacy, and equal opportunities;
WHEREAS, she became one of the most powerful voices to speak out against the injustice, challenging the rules of the NCAA, USA Swimming, International Olympic Committee (IOC), and other governing bodies;
WHEREAS, Riley now works for the one of the leading women’s organizations making real and lasting change, legally defining “woman,” protecting Title IX, and defending women’s rights to single-sex spaces and equal opportunities;
WHEREAS, she has traveled the country speaking and has testified before the U.S. Senate, U.S. House, and countless state legislatures;
RESOLVED: that the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union commend Riley Gaines for her leadership in defending women’s single-sex spaces, advocating for equality and fairness, and standing up for women’s safety in sports, privacy, and equal opportunities. (source rileygains.com)
Respectfully Submitted,
Kathleen E. Johnson, NWCTU Vice President, Chair
Bunny S. Galladora, Maryland State President