Presley struggles on sex change for children, and MS gets it’s first Safe Haven Baby Box

What you do matters. Just look at what’s happened with these two bills you helped pass this session. 

Please take a moment to read the below article I’m honored the Magnolia Tribune published. We do not need a governor who polls select voters to find out what they should say on whether minors should receive experimental gender transition treatments.  

It is now known, without dispute, that the combination of puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones causes grave harm to children including permanent sterilization and profound and irreversible sexual dysfunction.  

Thank you Governor Reeves for courageously leading with clarity and without equivocation on this issue.  I applaud Speaker Gunn and the other legislative leaders for fulfilling their duty to protect the youngest and most vulnerable among us in passing the REAP Act this past session.

Read my article here

Despite the above shocking news of Presley wavering on the gender treatment ban for minors, I am happy to report the first Safe Haven Baby Box in Mississippi was dedicated and blessed in Long Beach, MS, on Wednesday, August 23rd. Even with the record August sweltering temperatures, a rather large crowd gathered outside of the Long Beach Central Fire Station with media in attendance to commentate this crucial, no-name, no-shame, no-blame option for mothers— who are not yet ready to parent—to safely surrender their babies to eventually be placed in their forever adoptive homes.

These boxes are now saving one surrendered baby every 10 days across our nation.  

Attendees heard from Caitlin Kelly, Rep. Ford, Fire Chief Griff Skellie, Alderman Donald Frazier, and Safe Haven Baby Box founder and CEO, Monica Kelsey, who started this organization after learning she had been abandoned as an infant. The service ended with the dedication and blessing by Reverend LaRue Stephens of First Baptist Church Long Beach.  

My friends, Mississippi led the way in overturning Roe v. Wade, and the eyes of the world are now on our state to see if, post-Dobbs, we will step up and care for women, children, and families in need after a baby is born. These baby boxes are only one of the ways we can do just that. Let’s now get these boxes installed in every county across our state to help our neighbors in need.

The entire effort has been led by Speaker Philip Gunn, Representatives Jill Ford, Angela Cockerham, and Kevin Felsher, Senator Josh Harkins, as well as SHBB activist, birth mom/foster mom/adoptive mom and heart-behind-it-all SHBB hero Caitlin Kelly. The Long Beach location will forever be known as SHBB 158, noting the 158th baby box in the nation.

Getting a baby box in your community is now pretty easy, thanks to you and this new law. Email me now to find out how to get started!

– Lesley