Mike Pence praises new rule that allows adoption agencies to ban gay parents

Photo by Gage Skidmore (commons.wikimedia.org)

Mike Pence praised the Trump administration for a rule change that will allow adoption and foster agencies to refuse to work with LGBTQ families… in a speech advocating more adoption.

Pence delivered his comments about National Adoption Month at a Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) event that was attended by top Trump administration officials, the Washington Blade reports.

Related: As states restrict gay adoptions, Connecticut is recruiting more LGBTQ parents

Less than two weeks ago, HHS announced that it will be reversing an Obama era rule that bans child care and public health organizations that receive HHS grants from discriminating against LGBTQ people. Many adoption and foster agencies get those grants and some have been clamoring for a right to refuse LGBTQ parents.

Pence said that he “couldn’t be more proud” of the rule that allows foster and adoption agencies to deny children a home with LGBTQ people, adding that it was “decisive action.”

“We’ve reversed the rule implemented in the closing days of the last administration that jeopardized the ability of faith-based providers to serve those in need by penalizing them for their deeply held religious beliefs,” Pence said. “We will stand for the freedom of religion and we will stand with faith-based organizations to support adoption.”

Pence said that the rule “recognizes the vital role that faith-based organizations play in adoption in this country.”

“And I’ll make you one more promise: Child welfare providers will never be forced to choose between their faith and serving those in need — not on our watch,” he said, implying that religion is inherently anti-LGBTQ.

Earlier this year, HHS granted an exemption to the rule for a South Carolina adoption agency that did not want to place children with same-sex couples and Jewish families, an example of what’s to come with the rule change…

Read full story, and more, from Source: Mike Pence praises new rule that allows adoption agencies to ban gay parents

Share

About Gay Today

Editor of Gay Today