Tennessee state lawmakers move forward legislation allowing adoption agencies to discriminate against LGBTQ families
The bill was passed through the House with a vote of 67 to 22
By Steve Brown
Tennessee state lawmakers have moved forward a legislation allowing adoption agencies to discriminate against LGBTQ parents.
According to the Associated Press, the bill was passed through the Republican-dominated House with a vote of 67 to 22.
Republican Tim Rudd said the bill would stop adoption agencies in the state from being ‘required to perform, assist, consent to, refer, or participate in any child placement for foster care or adoption that would violate the agency’s written religious or moral convictions’.
Other states have similar laws in place, including Kansa and Oklahoma who both passed their legislation last year.
Rudd said: “We’re doing the same as nine other states have done.
“Throughout the country, these faith-based organizations have been sued to the point they’re being driven out of business due to costs.”
Some opposed to the bill argued that the new legislation would allow discrimination based on sexual orientation and reduce the number of families who could take in children.
Democrat John Ray Clemons said during a floor debate: “We have children across this state looking for loving homes, why are we doing anything to prohibit a loving family or a couple from being able to care of a child and take it in and provide for it, why?”
Now, the bill must pass through the Republican-controlled Senate before going to Governor Bill Lee’s desk.