Thread by @Lady_Star_Gem

The House Appropriations Committee, passed an amendment allowing taxpayer funded adoption agencies to deny LGBTQ families the ability to adopt a child based on religious objection.

We can't allow this blatant discrimination!
✊🏼🏳️‍🌈
#LGBTQ
#LoveIsLove
lgbtqnation.com/2018/07/rule-m…

Amendment is on Dept of Labor, Health, Human Services, Education funding bill
If it remains in final bill, it cuts 15% fed adoption funding to states, localities that penalize adoption agencies refusing to place kids in fams conflicting with agency’s religious beliefs/convictions

“House Rs are pandering to their far-right base at expense of LGBTQ people/kids in need of home
Rather than focus empowering fams, uniting
Rs on House Appropriations Committee voted to give child welfare agencies license to discriminate against qualified potential parents”
-Lucas

“Across country, LGBTQ candidates are running for office & taking a stand against the tRump-GOP agenda, which seeks to roll back progress we've made.
In November, voters will stand together in the face of this bigotry & hate & elect Democrats up & down the ticket.

#FlipItBlue 🌊

In addition to LGBTQ people & same-sex couples, the amendment would also impact interfaith couples, single parents, married couples in which 1 prospective parent has previously been divorced or other qualified parents to whom an agency could have an objection.

#VoteThemAllOut

A big barrier placing kids with families is lack of qualified prospective parents
Having government give contractors/subcontractors license to discriminate, thereby limiting pool of prospective parents for no legitimate reason, is unconscionable, an unacceptable use of taxpayer $

“Any Member of Congress supporting amendment is clearly stating more important to discriminate than finding loving home for kids in need.
Congress should focus on ways to help kids in child welfare system find homes rather than create needless obstacles for prospective parents.

Effectively shrinking pool of qualified folks who want to provide children with a loving home.

Human Rights Campaign urges Congress to reject this discriminatory amendment in the final appropriations bill.

-David Stacy, dir of government affairs, Human Rights Campaign

HRC recently released report Disregarding Best Interest of the Child: License to Discriminate In Child Welfare Services, detailing harm of efforts to write anti-LGBTQ discrimination by child welfare agencies into law.

Statistics suggest estimated 2 million LGBTQ adults in US are interested in adoption
LGBTQ community remains untapped resource when it comes to finding fams for kids/youth foster care
Taxpayer $ should never be used to promote discrimination against any American, LGBTQ, otherwise

“Shocking to see lawmakers willing to hurt LGBTQ Americans, vulnerable kids waiting for forever homes.
This is just the latest example discrimination against LGBTQ Americans is real, urgent, detriment to all Americans, should be cured by federal comprehensive protections ASAP.”

9 states already have laws on the books allowing child welfare agencies receiving taxpayer funding discriminate against LGBTQ youth & families:

Alabama
Kansas
Michigan
Mississippi
North Dakota
Oklahoma
South Dakota
Texas
Virginia

5 of those bills passed in the last 2 years

21000+ youth await adoption in these states
LGBTQ youth are overrepresented in foster
Many rejected by fams of origin cause LGBTQ status
Especially vulnerable to discrimination/mistreatment in foster care
This type of amendment will exacerbate challenges faced by LGBTQ youth

SMH