Tennessee Lawmakers Pass Bill Allowing Adoption Agencies To Ban Gay Parents

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Tennessee lawmakers passed a controversial measure this week that allows faith-based foster care and adoption agencies to receive taxpayer funding even if they discriminate against same-sex couples.

HB 836 declares that no licensed adoption agency would be required to participate in a child placement if doing so would “violate the agency’s written religious or moral convictions or policies,” reports USA Today.

The measure also prohibits the state from denying an agency’s license or grant application for public funds because of the group’s refusal to place a child with a family based on religious objections. The adoption agency would also be protected from lawsuits for such a refusal.

The state GOP-controlled Senate passed the bill on the first day of the 2020 legislative session 20-6, with five Republican members declining to vote on the measure, including Lt. Gov. Randy McNally.

The House passed the bill in April, and eight other states around the country have passed similar legislation, including Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Alabama, South Dakota, North Dakota, Virginia, Mississippi and Michigan. NBC News notes that Michigan agreed in settling a lawsuit to no longer turn away LGBT couples or individuals because of religious objections.

The bill will now head to Gov. Bill Lee for his signature.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee’s communication director, Chris Walker, confirmed in a statement Tuesday evening that the governor would sign the bill.

“We are off to a fine start this session,” state Sen. Steve Dickerson joked while debating against the bill earlier as the lone Republican opposed.

Critics of the bill argue that the bill attack LGBT rights and limit the number of qualified families seeking to adopt or foster needy children.

Tennessee Sen. Raumesh Akbari (D) argued that the bill would deny homes to children who need them.

“To me, it boils down to safety,” she said. “It boils down to hem being happy, being free from abuse, and to feel like they belong.”

Tennessee Sen. Steve Dickerson, the only Republican to vote against the measure, argued that the bill was “bad public policy,” citing businesses that may refuse to hold events in the state because of the bill.

“I think we can probably kiss that goodbye,” he said, referring to several major sports events.

The legislation sparked opposition from civil rights and foster advocates.

“The foster care system is at a critical juncture where it is required by new federal law to reduce the number of children placed in harmful group homes and to expand family home options for children who cannot safely return to their family of origin,” said Currey Cook, counsel and director of Lambda Legal. “Children who need more homes, not fewer, should not suffer as part of efforts to chip away at equality for LGBTQ families.”

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