Month: March 2026

On Friday, Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator Kelly Loeffler announced a new policy that would ban foreign nationals and non-citizens from loans through the agency.

Loeffler said in a statement, “The Trump SBA is committed to driving economic growth and job creation for American citizens.”

“The Trump SBA is committed to driving economic growth and job creation for American citizens,” she continued.

“Last month, we made it clear that SBA would not allow foreign nationals to access our core small business loan programs – and today, we are expanding that policy to include all SBA-guaranteed loans. With our lending authority capped annually by Congress and amid record demand for access to capital, our responsibility is clear: the limited resource of SBA financing must prioritize American citizens who are building businesses and creating jobs here at home.”

Effective March 1, 2026, the SBA requires that 100% of all direct and indirect owners of a small business applying for SBA financing must be U.S. citizens or U.S. nationals with their principal residence in the United States, its territories, or possessions.

The new policy eliminates any foreign ownership (even a small percentage, such as the previous allowance of up to 5% in some cases)  and explicitly bars legal permanent residents (green card holders/LPRs) from holding any ownership interest in an applicant or borrower business.

In a press release, the agency stated, “Today, in the effort to prioritize American job creators, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) issued a new policy notice to ban foreign nationals and non-citizens from accessing SBA-guaranteed small business loans.”

“The latest notice, which applies to the agency’s Surety Bond and Microloan Programs, builds on the policy change implemented earlier this month – which made any small business owned in whole or in part by a foreign national ineligible for the agency’s flagship 504 and 7(a) loan programs. Small business owners applying for any SBA loan program must be U.S. citizens or U.S. nationals with their principal residence in the United States.”

Per Fox News:

The requirement will apply to its Surety Bond and Microloan programs and is an expansion of changes made in February to the SBA’s 504 and 7(a) programs — loans for small businesses looking to finance working capital, equipment or acquisitions. Those earlier reforms prohibited SBA loans from going to businesses that are partially or wholly owned by foreign nationals.

The Surety Bond helps new or inexperienced contractors bid for government jobs that require bonding. Similarly, The Microloan program looks to offer small businesses loans of up to $50,000 through approved third-party intermediaries.

The SBA under President Trump has made rooting out fraud, and directing funds toward American citizens, priorities.

In January, Loeffler said the agency discovered, following a review of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) approvals in Minnesota, nearly $400 million in potentially fraudulent loans—money that was supposed to keep small businesses afloat and American workers employed during the pandemic.

Loeffler said the agency reviewed thousands of pandemic-era loans approved in Minnesota and identified 7,900 PPP and EIDL loans connected to the suspended borrowers and suspended 6,900 Minnesota borrowers after uncovering the suspected fraud.

In February, the agency suspended 111,620 California borrowers connected to $8.6 BILLION in suspected pandemic fraud.

The post SBA Announces New Policy Banning Foreign Nationals and Non-Citizens from Loans and ‘Prioritize American Citizens’ appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

The Iran War entered its tenth day Monday as the U.S. military announced that a seventh servicemember died of injuries sustained while deployed in Saudi Arabia. 

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt indicated Sunday that President Donald Trump has refused to rule out sending U.S. ground troops into Iran. Leavitt said that it is “not part of the current plan,” but “the president keeps options on the table.”

U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday  told the Times of Israel that the decision on when to end the war with Iran will be a “mutual” one that will be made together with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The war has killed more than 1,200 people in Iran, nearly 400 in Lebanon and 11 in Israel, according to figures from those countries’ respective governments.

Iranian clerics on Sunday chose Mojtaba Khamenei to succeed his father Ali Khamenei as supreme leader. The 56-year old has close ties to the IRGC and is considered more of a hardliner than his father.

A video posted to X on Monday morning showed an Iranian oil tanker exploding after suffering what was likely an attack by the U.S. military. The IDF announced that they had bombed Beirut and Tehran on Monday.

Bahrain’s Bapco Energies has declared force majeure on its operations following a strike on its refinery complex. At least 32 people were wounded by a blast in Sitra on Sunday night. Officials described the incident as a “hostile Iranian drone attack.” Video and local reporting indicate the damage was caused by an interceptor missile fired by Bahrain’s air defenses in a failed interception attempt.

G7 countries are considering releasing 400 million barrels of crude oil from reserves, the Financial Times reported. France’s President Macron confirmed the possibility of ceasefire talks Monday while speaking to reporters in Cyprus. AAA reported on Monday that the average national gas price had climbed to $3.48.

The post Iran War Enters Tenth Day appeared first on The American Conservative.

Members of the Iranian women’s soccer team appeared to call for help as their bus pulled away from an Australian stadium on Sunday night.

The team grabbed world headlines last week by refusing to sing the Iranian national anthem during its opening game in the Asian Cup tournament. 

Mohammad Reza Shahbazi, a TV presenter who speaks for Iran’s government, chastised the players, according to the Daily Mail.

“Let me just say one thing: traitors during wartime must be dealt with more severely,” he said.

The Iranian National Women’s Soccer Team is in imminent danger as they refused to sing the national anthem of the IRIR.

They can’t be sent to the brutal regime in Iran that will hang them or worse, Australia must save them. pic.twitter.com/qfkiswKlPG

— Hen Mazzig (@HenMazzig) March 8, 2026

The Daily Mail noted that crowds thronged around the team’s bus as it prepared to leave, and that at least one player made the SOS sign out the window. Some in the crowd shouted “save our girls” and “let them go” as the bus departed.

“The Iranian National Women’s Soccer Team is in imminent danger.” Hadi Karimi, a human rights advocate, said in a post on X.

He said he saw three players make the signal, according to CNN.

“We’re asking federal police, the government, Australian people, everyone. These girls are asking for help. They are showing their hand, (the) SOS sign. This is very, very important. Their life is in danger,” he remarked.

CNN reported that on Thursday and again on Sunday, the players were forced to sing the anthem.

 Reza Pahlavi, the son of Iran’s former shah, said the players face “dire consequences” in Iran.

“As a result of their brave act of civil disobedience in refusing to sing the current regime’s national anthem, they face dire consequences should they return to Iran,” Pahlavi said. “I call on the Australian government to ensure their safety and give them any and all needed support.”

“We all have very reasonable and serious concerns for their safety,” Craig Foster, a former captain of the Australian men’s soccer team, said, according to CBS News.

“When any team participates in a FIFA-regulated tournament, whether Asian Football Confederation or any other confederation, they must have the right to safety and external support to express any concerns they have around their safety now or in future.”

Alireza Mohebbi, a correspondent in Australia for the opposition Iran International news network, said the players were put under pressure after not singing the anthem.

“It’s completely obvious that the Islamic Republic’s regime, and the security team which is with the players in Australia, forced them to sing the anthem,” he asserted. 

“In the first match with South Korea they didn’t do it, but now with all the pressure and media spreading the news around the world, it’s completely obvious the regime pushed them not just to sing the anthem but to do the military salute. There is no doubt.”

Foster noted that players have been “held hostage by the Iranian team management in their hotel and they’ve been denied the opportunity to speak to external community members, friends, family or any support networks, be that lawyers or anyone else.”

“Some may have concerns, others may not — but what we know is most of them have families back home, some of them have children back home, and even if offered the right to remain in Australia, if they feel unsafe, many of them may not accept that opportunity,” he said.

“What’s most important is that that offer is made.”

This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.

The post Iranian Women’s Soccer Team Appears to Cry for Help with Subtle Hand Gesture appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

The Pentagon on Monday revealed the identity of the seventh solder killed in Operation Epic Fury.

On Sunday it was reported a seventh U.S service member has died during Operation Epic Fury.

The fallen hero, identified as 26-year-old Sgt. Benjamin N. Pennington, died from his wounds following an attack on U.S. troops in Saudi Arabia on March 1.

CENTCOM noted, “Last night, a U.S. service member passed away from injuries received during the Iranian regime’s initial attacks across the Middle East. The service member was seriously wounded at the scene of an attack on U.S. troops in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on March 1.”

“This is the seventh service member killed in action during Operation Epic Fury. Major combat operations continue. The identity of the fallen warrior will be withheld until 24 hours after next of kin notification,” CENTCOM added.

CENTCOM Update

TAMPA, Fla. – Last night, a U.S. service member passed away from injuries received during the Iranian regime’s initial attacks across the Middle East. The service member was seriously wounded at the scene of an attack on U.S. troops in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia…

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 8, 2026

The Gateway Pundit reported on the 4 deaths of Army Reserve Soldiers serving in Kuwait.

The heroes died on March 1, 2026, in Port Shuaiba, Kuwait, during an unmanned aircraft system attack.

“All Soldiers were assigned to the 103rd Sustainment Command, Des Moines, Iowa. The incident is under investigation,” the Pentagon said at the time.

The Department of War identified them as:

• Capt. Cody A. Khork, 35, of Winter Haven, Florida
• Sgt. 1st Class Noah L. Tietjens, 42, of Bellevue, Nebraska
• Sgt. 1st Class Nicole M. Amor, 39, of White Bear Lake, Minnesota
• Sgt. Declan J. Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, lowa

Sgt. Benjamin Pennington was assigned to the 1st Space Battalion.

DOD has identified the 7th US service member who died yesterday following an attack by Iran at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia earlier in the week as 26-year-old Sgt. Benjamin Pennington.

Pennington was assigned to 1st Space Battalion, 1st Space Brigade with Army Space…

— Haley Britzky (@halbritz) March 9, 2026

The post JUST IN: Seventh Soldier Killed in Operation Epic Fury Identified appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

The post HUGE: President Trump Offers Asylum to Iranian Women’s Soccer Team appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Markwayne Mullin, the U.S. Senator from Oklahoma, was recently tapped by President Donald Trump to serve as Secretary of the United States Department of Homeland Security, replacing Kristi Noem following a shake-up in the administration.

President Donald Trump announced that Oklahoma Senator and undefeated MMA fighter Markwayne Mullin will lead the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) effective March 31.

The move, announced via Truth Social, signals a massive escalation in Trump’s war against the open-border radicals and “deep state” bureaucrats who have tried to sabotage the America First agenda.

“I am pleased to announce that the Highly Respected United States Senator from the Great State of Oklahoma, Markwayne Mullin, will become the United States Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS), effective March 31, 2026. The current Secretary, Kristi Noem, who has served us well, and has had numerous and spectacular results (especially on the Border!), will be moving to be Special Envoy for The Shield of the Americas, our new Security Initiative in the Western Hemisphere we are announcing on Saturday in Doral, Florida,” Trump said.

If Mullin is confirmed and leaves the Senate, Kevin Stitt, the Republican governor of Oklahoma, will be required to appoint a temporary replacement to serve until voters choose a senator in the next election.

Under Oklahoma law, Governor Kevin Stitt will have 30 days to appoint a temporary U.S. senator to fill the vacancy until voters decide the seat in the next election.

The appointee will serve only briefly and is expected to sign an oath promising not to run for the seat in the upcoming election, a measure designed to prevent the advantages of incumbency in the race.

Speculation is rampant about who Stitt might choose. Here’s a breakdown of the potential candidates, according to multiple outlets:

U.S. Rep. Kevin Hern: Hern who represents Oklahoma’s 1st Congressional District and chairs the Republican Study Committee.

Dustin Hilliary: A senior advisor to Governor Stitt, communications executive, and CEO of a telecommunications company.

Donelle Harder: Governor Stitt’s current chief of staff and long-time campaign consultant.

Harold Hamm: Founder of Continental Resources and a prominent oil executive. Hamm reportedly contacted Governor Stitt to express interest in the appointment.

John O’Connor: Former Oklahoma Attorney General, previously appointed by Stitt in 2021 to fill an unexpired term.

Nathan Dahm: Former chair of the Oklahoma Republican Party and current State Senator.

David Ostrowe: Chief Operating Officer in the Governor’s office.

Alex Gray: A former National Security Council official who ran for the Senate in 2022.

Bond Payne: Governor Stitt’s former chief of staff.

Matt Pinnell: The current Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma, though his office has stated he is evaluating all options for his future service.

T.W. Shannon: Former Oklahoma House Speaker T.W. Shannon, a prominent conservative figure and member of the Chickasaw Nation, is also frequently mentioned. Shannon previously ran for the Senate.

Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell: Some insiders have speculated that Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell—a longtime Republican strategist and ally of Gov. Stitt—could be considered for the role.

Rep. Stephanie Bice: Another possible contender is U.S. Rep. Stephanie Bice, a Republican from Oklahoma City. Bice flipped her congressional district in 2020 and has built a reputation as a reliable conservative voice in Washington.

While the appointment is for a temporary placeholder, several prominent Oklahoma Republicans have already signaled interest in running for the seat permanently in the November 2026 general election, including U.S. Representatives Kevin Hern and Stephanie Bice. However, the temporary appointee cannot run in the election.

According to The Oklahoman, other Republicans who have filed paperwork to run for Oklahoma’s open U.S. Senate seat are:

• Nick Hankins
• Ron Meinhardt
• Tammy Swearengin
• Wayne Washington

The post Gov. Stitt to Pick Temporary Replacement After Trump Taps Sen. Markwayne Mullin to Lead DHS — Here Are the Reported Contenders for Oklahoma’s Senate Seat appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

In the middle of revolutions and collapsing empires, history is finally handing patriots a golden chance to DESTROY one of the most evil ideologies poisoning the planet: political Islam.

The possible TOTAL COLLAPSE of the bloodthirsty mullah regime in Iran — that dark fortress of medieval barbarism and terrorism — wouldn’t just be a huge win for freedom-loving people everywhere.

It would be the BEGINNING OF THE END for the monstrous idea that societies must be ruled by Allah’s so-called “law” instead of by free men and women under God-given rights.

For 47 LONG YEARS, these ayatollahs have crushed their own people under brutal oppression while acting as the HEADQUARTERS of global jihad and Islamist terror.

From the 1983 Beirut bombings that slaughtered Americans, to pouring billions into Hezbollah, Hamas, and even al-Qaeda, Tehran has spread its hate like a deadly plague across the Middle East, Africa, and beyond.

If — and when — these tyrants fall, the free world MUST seize the moment to ERADICATE political Islam once and for all! This isn’t just another regime — it’s the EPICENTER of a genocidal, anti-Semitic death cult that openly calls for the slaughter of Jews and “infidels.”

Don’t believe the apologists: their own texts prove it. Take the infamous “stones and trees” hadith straight from Sahih Bukhari — the so-called “authentic” collection — where even rocks and trees will rat out hiding Jews so Muslims can murder them.

Hamas and radical preachers quote this garbage TODAY to justify their attacks and dream of genocide. Mainstream scholars try to spin it as “end-times only,” but jihadists use it as a CURRENT LICENSE TO KILL.

Political Islam aka Islamism is BACKWARD, BARBARIC, and ANTI-HUMAN. Women whipped, public hangings for apostasy (still happening in 2026!), Khomeini’s fatwas greenlighting mass murder — Iran is the living proof of what happens when fanaticism replaces reason and freedom.

The disappearance of this nightmare regime would create a MASSIVE VACUUM — and the West better fill it FAST with a full-frontal intellectual, legal, and cultural OFFENSIVE.

Ban this poison from international bodies, hit sponsor states with crushing sanctions, and teach real criticism of dogma in schools. No more kid gloves!

But let’s be crystal clear — unlike the brain-dead leftists who scream “Islamophobia” at everything — we’re NOT attacking Islam itself or every Muslim. That’s a dishonest smear.

The Bible has violent passages too (stoning adulterers, wiping out Amalekites), but Christianity evolved — reformed — and joined the modern world.

Islam CAN do the same if reformers step up and shove the bloodiest parts into the history books where they belong — like shameful dinosaur relics.

Our fight is laser-focused: POLITICAL ISLAM — the totalitarian version pushed by the Muslim Brotherhood, Sayyid Qutb’s jihad manuals, the 1988 Hamas charter calling for Jewish genocide — is a MACHINE OF HATE AND MURDER. It’s incompatible with democracy, free speech, or civilized life.

When “law” means blind submission to ‘Allah’, there’s no debate, no compromise — just SUBMISSION (that’s literally what “Islam” means). It’s time to stop hiding behind “complexity” excuses.

Political Islam is a PERMANENT INCITEMENT TO MURDER — especially against Jews, who are turned into cosmic enemies.

Just like Germans outlawed Nazism after WWII, the West must OUTLAW this ideology. It’s not intolerance; it’s COMMON SENSE and SURVIVAL.

Look at U.S. Supreme Court precedent — Brandenburg v. Ohio (1969): speech that incites imminent lawless action isn’t protected. So why on earth do we tolerate chants of “Kill the Jews” and “Death to infidels” in mosques and streets?

Muslims also deserve better: a world where faith is private, not a theocratic whip held by fanatics.

The fall of Iran’s mullahs could spark a true RENAISSANCE — tougher laws against incitement, zero tolerance for terror sponsors, and education that exposes dogma for what it is.

If the ayatollahs go down, let’s make sure political Islam goes down with them — FOREVER. No more apologies. No more weakness. Time to WIN.

The post SHOCKING OPPORTUNITY: The Fall of Iran’s Mullah Regime Could WIPE OUT Political Islam – Time for the West to STRIKE HARD! appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Note: The information provided here or in any related communications is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice. We do not provide personalized investment, financial, or legal advice. Gateway Pundit benefits from purchases made through our sponsors.

by Jeff Brown

Everyone’s waiting for SpaceX to go public.

That’s the mistake.

IPOs are liquidity events.
They’re not ground-floor opportunities.

By the time the bell rings:
• Early capital is already multiplied
• Institutions are already positioned
• Valuation has already expanded

This isn’t new.

Amazon. Google. Tesla.
Opening day buyers didn’t build generational wealth.

Early positioning did.

What if you could compress a lifetime of wealth-building…

Ten… twenty… even thirty years…

Into a single 24-hour window?

It sounds absurd.

But Elon Musk is about to make it a reality with something I’m calling…

“Day-One Retirement Plan.” Click here to see the details.

The post The SpaceX IPO Isn’t the Play – The Real Money Moves Before It appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, allegedly struggled with an “impotency problem” that reportedly delayed his marriage and required multiple medical visits to the United Kingdom before he was able to father a child.

The condition was so bad that Mojtaba could not find a wife. According to an international cable posted at Wikileaks, Mojtaba reportedly spent months being treated for impotency in private UK hospitals.

From the intelligence document:

CLASSIFIED BY: Jillian L. Burns, Director, Iran Regional Presence Office, Dubai, UAE.
REASON: 1.4 (d)

1.(S/NF) Summary: An Iranian doctor, reportedly very close to conservative circles in Iran, claimed that the Supreme Leader’s son Mojtaba holds extremist views and wields significant
influence in the Supreme Leader’s office. The doctor indicated that while Mojtaba essentially derives his power from his father’s position, he is building his own power base. The
Supreme Leader allegedly has begun chemotherapy, after resisting the treatment for some time. This is a single source account and his direct access to such information cannot be confirmedbut is credible.

End summary

2.(S/NF) An Iranian doctor who reportedly is close to conservative circles in Iran, particularly former Foreign Minister Velayati, told IRPO Director May 7 that Supreme Leader’s son Mojtaba plays a direct — and negative — role in Iranian policy-making. The source’s views on nuclear negotiator Mousavian’s arrest and other views on the domestic situation to
be provided septel.

Influence of Supreme Leader’s son
———————————

3.(S/NF) The doctor claims that Supreme Leader Khamenei’s son Mojtaba is exercising real power over his father’s decision-making. The source said Mojtaba is around 33 and the third of four sons. He claims Mojtaba is a true hardliner, a former student of Ansar-e Hizballah leader Hussein Allah Karam, although not a member of the group himself. He reportedly studied theology but does not wear cleric’s clothing. According to the source, Mojtaba is the only son of the Supreme Leader who is active in politics.

4.(S/NF) The doctor, who describes himself as religious conservative, said Mojtaba has the type of extremist mindset that cannot be persuaded towards pragmatism. The doctor blamed Mojtaba for much of what he saw as the negative aspects of Iran’s policy. The source gave no indication that Mojtaba’s grip on power was lessening. When IRPO director raised US certainty of Iran’s assistance to groups attacking US soldiers in Iraq later in the conversation, the doctor inferred that Mojtaba is likely driving Iran’s Iraq policy. He contrasted Mojtaba with IRGC Commander Safavi, who the source believes is a much more pragmatic actor.

Power linked to father’s?
————————-

5.(S/NF) The doctor said that Mojtaba mostly derives his power from his father, and he would likely lose this power if his father departs the scene. The doctor claimed that the Supreme Leader is now undergoing chemotherapy, after earlier refusing the treatment out of fear that people would see evidence of his illness, and that he has switched to a vegetarian diet. (Comment: One press report noted Mojtaba as a possible replacement for his father, although no contacts have mentioned this possibility. End comment)

6.(S/NF) The doctor cautioned, however, that Mojtaba has reportedly worked to shore up his own political base over the past 10 years, installing associates from Mashhad into positions of authority (NFI). These people reportedly remain loyal to Mojtaba and have developed “specialized” skills, making them hard to replace.

King-maker?
———–

7.(S/NF) Although Mojtaba holds no formal position, the source claimed that even ministers who go to the “Beit,” as the office of the Supreme Leader is called, are deferential to Mojtaba. The doctor says the Beit suffers from the worst type of hypocrisy. He claims Mojtaba often acts without his father’s foreknowledge, but his father indulges him and protects him. Allegedly, the Supreme Leader was furious a few years ago when he learned his phone was being monitored, but when he found out his son was responsible, he let it pass.

8.(S/NF) The doctor claimed, without citing sources, that Mojtaba decided that the Beit would switch its backing to Ahmadi-Nejad for president when Mojtaba could not come to an
agreement with first choice candidate Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf over who would get positions in the new government. However, Ahmadi-Nejad reportedly broke some of his promises to Mojtaba, as he has to other supporters (Note: See Ref D citing the same source. Endnote), and the two are no longer on good terms. The doctor also claimed that Mojtaba secured for his father-in-law Qolam Ali Haddad-Adel the position of Majles speaker, despite a lack of qualifications.

9.(S/NF) Comment: The doctor, a supporter of the regime but a critic of Ahmadi-Nejad, clearly sees Mojtaba as a negative influence on Iranian policy. He said that generally people in
Iran accept the fact that “Aghazadeh” or sons of clerics will profit from their connections and enrich themselves in business, but Iranians are uncomfortable seeing them accrue a political role in the Islamic Republic. We note that this is a single source report about Mojtaba Khamenei, and other contacts have not mentioned him as an important source of power in Iran. We will pulse other contacts to check for collaboration.

BURNS UNQUOTE:RICE

The post Iran’s New Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei “Struggled with Impotency” – Couldn’t Find a Wife – Was Treated in UK appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

The West Virginia Senate passed two crucial bills last week, Senate Bill 590 and Senate Bill 1083, to safeguard minors from explicit performances and indecent exposures, drawing outrage from radical LGBTQ activists who claim the measures unfairly target their community.

The first bill, SB 590, sponsored by Sen. Tom Willis, criminalizes “adult cabaret” performances on public property or in view of minors, expressly including female impersonators, aka drag queens.

This includes acts by “topless dancers, go-go dancers, exotic dancers, strippers, male or female impersonators who provide entertainment that appeals to the prurient interest.”

Violators will face penalties of up to a $25,000 fine or five years in prison.

During floor debate, Sen. Willis clarified that the bill’s intent will not include harmless plays or concerts. He defined a “go-go dancer” as someone “scantily dressed” performing “erotic” routines, emphasizing that only content exciting “lust or lewdness” would be prohibited.

Democrat Sen. Joey Garcia raised concerns about the language, questioning if family-friendly shows like Mrs. Doubtfire or Kinky Boots could be affected. Supporters countered that the bill’s focus on “prurient interest” ensures it targets only obscene material, not artistic expression.

The bill passed with overwhelming support, 31-2, with only two Democrats voting no.

The second bill, SB 1083, expands the definition of indecent exposure to include undressing in a locker room not matching one’s biological sex “in a manner likely to cause affront or alarm.”

It also requires sex offender registration for those convicted of exposing themselves to minors and imposes enhanced penalties for repeat offenders.

Originally a bill by Sen. Ryan Weld to update indecent exposure laws, it was amended to address transgender individuals using opposite-sex facilities.

Weld opposed the changes, calling them unconstitutional, but his amendment to remove them was rejected.

The bill passed 32-1.

Predictably, the state’s only LGBTQ organization, “Fairness West Virginia,” went crazy over the legislation.

Executive Director Andrew Schneider blasted the bills as “dangerous,” accusing Senate Republicans of “Trans Derangement Syndrome.”

In a statement, the organization ranted, “Instead of helping the people of McDowell County get clean drinking water, they’re planning to arrest drag queens. Instead of stopping our schools from closing, they want to lock up innocent transgender people.”

They falsely claimed the bills will label “trans Mountaineers and drag artists as dangerous criminals simply for existing,” ignoring the explicit focus on protecting children from exposure.

Both bills now head to the House of Delegates, where they must pass the Judiciary Committee before a full vote. If approved, they could land on the governor’s desk before the session ends.

The post West Virginia Senate Stands Up for Kids, Passes Bills to Shield Children from Drag Shows and Transgender Locker Room Exposures appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.