LGBTQ Parenting Year in Review: 2019
This past year saw many challenges to LGBTQ equality—but there was still some progress. Let’s review the parenting-specific news of the year, both good and bad.
religious exemption
Federal Judge Says Trump’s “Denial of Care” Rule Is Unconstitutional
A federal judge issued a decision Wednesday stating that a Trump administration rule allowing health care workers to refuse to provide medical services that violate their religious or moral beliefs is unconstitutional and invalid.
New York Gov: New Trump Rule Allowing Adoption and Healthcare Discrimination Is “Heartless and Dumb”
“Noxious”; “heartless and dumb”; “discriminatory and repugnant to our values”—these are just a few of the words that New York Governor Andrew Cuomo used to describe the Trump Administration’s proposed rule that would allow taxpayer-funded foster care and adoption agencies, along with other healthcare entities, to discriminate against LGBTQ people and others. Cuomo pledged to fight the rule and to continue supporting LGBTQ people in New York who want to become parents or care for children in need.
Trump Administration Issues New Rule to Allow Discrimination in Adoption, Foster Care, and Other Healthcare Services
The Trump administration has once again outdone itself in loathsomeness by issuing a new rule today—the first day of National Adoption Month—that allows taxpayer-funded foster care and adoption agencies to discriminate on the basis of sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, and religion. In fact, it would let all recipients of grants from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) engage in such discrimination, which could impact programs dedicated to youth homelessness, HIV, STI, and substance abuse prevention, among others. Here’s what you can do to help counter it.
Fighting the Trump Administration’s Discriminatory “Denial of Care” Rule
LGBTQ and reproductive rights advocates are in court today to fight a Trump administration rule that allows health care workers to refuse to provide medical services that violate their religious or moral beliefs. They argue that the rule is unlawful and permits discrimination against LGBTQ people and our families, among others.
Michigan Adoption and Foster Care Agencies Allowed to Discriminate Against Same-Sex Couples, Judge Rules
Taxpayer-funded adoption and foster care agencies in Michigan may use their religious beliefs as a reason to discriminate against same-sex and unmarried couples, a federal judge ruled yesterday, overturning a settlement that had been reached earlier this year.
New Proposed Labor Department Rule Has Religion-Based Discrimination Baked In
I’ve written numerous times before about the Trump administration’s efforts to allow discrimination against LGBTQ people and others in adoption and foster care and in health care. Now, they’re trying to allow similar discrimination in employment by an even wider range of companies.
Reintroduced Bill to End Adoption and Foster Care Discrimination Does Much More than Before
For the sixth Congress in a row, the Every Child Deserves a Family Act (ECDF) has been introduced in an attempt to ensure that no child lacks for a home because of discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, or religion. This year’s version of the bill goes even further, however, offering new protections and resources.
Trump Administration Plans to Allow Discrimination in Adoption and Foster Care: Here’s What You Can Do
It’s only surprising if you weren’t paying attention. The Trump administration let slip last week that they are considering two paths to allowing discrimination against LGBTQ people and others in adoption and foster care, following up on what they’ve intended for a long time.
LGBTQ Parenting Roundup: An Apple for the Teacher Edition
Here’s what’s happening that I haven’t covered elsewhere, including progress—and protests—in LGBTQ-inclusive education, mixed results in Tennessee, and more same-sex penguin moms!