Mark Wednesday, May 24, 2023 on your calendars. 

Mayor Mitch Reynolds and the City Council of La Crosse passed an ordinance last summer in violation of their oaths of office. The ordinance violated our 1st Amendment rights by suppressing a counselor's free speech including religious free speech.  The ordinance makes it unlawful for professional medical and professional counselors to counsel minor children on gender issues with a perspective that encourages children to find comfort in their biological sex.  Joy Buchman of Kinsman Redeemer Counseling, is the plaintiff in the lawsuit against the city of La Crosse and is being represented by the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty (WILL).

The case will be heard in U.S. District Court, Western District of WI, at 120 N. Henry St. #320 in Madison on Wednesday, May 24, 2023 beginning at 9:30 a.m. Judge William M. Conley, a President Obama appointee, will be presiding in room #250. Anyone who would like to attend should arrive 15 minutes early.

Depending on the outcome of the case, the losing side can appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, which affects cases for the states of Wisconsin, Indiana and Illinois.
 
The Save Your Rights Coalition of La Crosse is setting up prayer vigils in advance of and during this hearing.  There are two times and locations planned so far.  One is at Connect Church, 3340 Kinney Coulee Road S, Onalaska, WI, on Tuesday, May 23rd from 6-8pm.  Another is at Crossway Church, 1407 St. Andrews St., La Crosse from 5-9 p.m.

If your church or others would be willing to host a prayer vigil for this, please use the email below so we can announce it for you.  In addition, Ms. Buchman will be attending the hearing in Madison.  If you would like to go to Madison, use the same email so we can coordinate a trip.

Ms. Buchman and the Save Your Rights Coalition has begun its church tour in La Crosse County to educate people on the ban on conversion therapy ordinance that was passed by the city of La Crosse. If your church or group would like Joy to speak, please contact the Coalition at saveyourrightscoalition@gmail.com. If you have any news tips or would like to give information about concerns that are happening in your school or community please also feel free to contact us through this email.

Due to health and financial issues that Joy is experiencing, some of the Coalition team has set up a GiveSendGo page for those who would like to donate to Joy. To donate to Joy, google GiveSendGo, and type in "Joy For Children" in the search bar to locate her campaign.

Please forward this to anyone who would be interested. Thank you!