Christian Counselors Fight Back Against Woke State Crackdown on Parents’ Rights

Liberty Check

• Wisconsin’s radical rule forces Christian counselors to reject biblical truths or face punishment
• Evers administration ignores recent Supreme Court victory protecting religious freedom
• Conservative legal group files lawsuit defending parents’ right to seek faith-based help for children

Christian counselors in Wisconsin are standing up to a state rule that threatens their ability to offer faith-based guidance to families with gender-confused children. The regulation, imposed by Democratic Governor Tony Evers’ administration, may directly violate a landmark Supreme Court ruling issued just months ago.

In May, the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty (WILL) filed a lawsuit challenging the state’s sweeping restrictions. The legal action represents two Christian counselors, Terri Koschnick and Joy Buchman, who refuse to abandon their biblical principles under government coercion.

The state rule effectively forces Christian counselors to choose between their deeply held religious beliefs and their professional licenses. Under the regulation, counselors cannot provide certain therapeutic services to minors struggling with gender identity issues — even when parents specifically request faith-based counseling for their own children.

This heavy-handed government intervention raises serious constitutional concerns. The Supreme Court ruled in March that government officials cannot target religious Americans for their beliefs or force them to violate their conscience. Yet Wisconsin’s rule appears to do exactly that, singling out counselors who operate from a traditional understanding of gender and sexuality.

WILL argues the regulation tramples on fundamental First Amendment protections. Christian counselors have the constitutional right to offer services consistent with their faith, especially when families voluntarily seek out such guidance. Parents — not government bureaucrats — should decide what kind of counseling is appropriate for their children.

The Evers administration’s rule reflects a disturbing trend of left-wing states weaponizing licensing boards to punish religious conservatives. By threatening professional livelihoods, these regulations aim to silence dissent from radical gender ideology and force everyone to affirm government-approved views on sexuality.

For Koschnick and Buchman, the lawsuit is about more than their own careers. It’s about defending the rights of parents to raise their children according to their values and the rights of counselors to practice their profession without compromising their faith. The outcome of this case could set a crucial precedent for religious freedom across the country.

Wisconsin families deserve access to counselors who share their values and can provide guidance rooted in biblical truth. The state has no business dictating which therapeutic approaches are acceptable based on political correctness or gender ideology.

This case is a critical test of whether the Supreme Court’s protections for religious liberty will be honored by state governments or ignored when politically inconvenient. Christian counselors should not be forced to choose between their faith and their calling to help families in crisis.

The Constitution must be defended.