Bradford, AR. — Rep. Wayne Long from House District 39 (Covering parts of White, Jackson and Independence counties) stated:
My most important bill that was signed into law was “The Given Name Act”. Act 542 went into effect on August 1, 2023, it does two simple, but yet very important things; Act 542 safeguards the religious liberty of teachers, professors, students, employees and administrators of our public education systems. It protects them from being forced by their school to affirm a student’s belief that he or she has changed their gender, by calling them by their preferred pronouns or fictitious
name.
This protection is guaranteed in the Arkansas Constitution’s Declaration of Rights: Article 2 Section 24 of the Arkansas Constitution, under the heading religious liberty states, “No human authority can, in any case or manner whatsoever, control or interfere with the right of conscience”. Despite this guaranteed right, some education professionals were being compelled by their schools to use pronouns or names that are inconsistent with a student’s biological sex. Rep. Long, a Republican, explains that a teacher contacted him and said her conscience would not let her “affirm” a student confused about his or her sex. “This single mom was willing to lose her job rather than go against her Christian beliefs,” Long said. When this compelled speech violates a person’s conscience or biblical beliefs it is unconstitutional. Act 542 provides needed clarity and protection to educators and staff.
This Act also requires a parent of a minor to give written permission to the school for their child to be called anything other than their given name. Some school districts were hiding the fact that children are pretending to be another gender while at school. This act will require the knowledge and approval of parents before the school could allow the child to pretend to be a different
gender while at school. Even with parental approval the faculty and other students who object still do not have to participate in affirming this misconception.
Alliance Defending Freedom stated: “Rep. Long’s Given Name Act is one of the most comprehensive laws in the nation when it comes to protecting educators, students and parental rights on this matter”.
