The U.S. House Appropriations Committee has approved an anti-LGBTQ amendment to an existing funding bill—an amendment that would allow child service agencies receiving federal funds to discriminate against otherwise qualified prospective parents based on the agency’s religious or moral beliefs. Ten states already allow such discrimination; this would enshrine it in federal law.
The amendment, on a bill funding for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, was offered by Representative Robert Aderholt (R-AL), and was approved by a 29-23 vote, reports Family Equality Council. If passed, it would allow widespread discrimination against many, including LGBTQ prospective parents, LGBTQ youth in care, single or divorced parents, interfaith couples, or people of religions other than the one espoused by the agency. The harm here is to the already great number of children in need of homes. Federal data indicates more than 440,000 children are currently in foster care, 117,000 of whom are waiting for adoption. More than 20,000 children age out of the system each year without finding a permanent family, putting them more at risk for joblessness, homelessness, incarceration, and other problems.
This new amendment, however, would reduce child welfare funding to states that do not allow religiously based discrimination against prospective parents or youth in care.
What to do?
- First, call and e-mail your representatives—especially if they are on the Appropriations Committee—and tell them not to support this amendment, which would limit the number of homes available to children who need them.
- Follow the Every Child Deserves a Family Campaign, which has been fighting such bills for some time, as I detailed here. I’m guessing they will have more information and actions in the days to come.
