Tennessee has passed a bill prohibiting the Department of Children's Services from discriminating against conservative foster parents.
The “Tennessee Foster and Adoptive Parent Protection Act, ” Senate Bill 1738, passed the Tennessee House of Representatives on Monday by a vote of 73-20.
Under the new legislation, the Department of Children’s Services cannot require "a current or prospective adoptive or foster parent ("parent") to affirm, accept, or support any government policy regarding sexual orientation or gender identity that conflicts with the parent's sincerely held religious or moral beliefs."
Additionally, DCS cannot deny "a parent's eligibility to foster or adopt based, in whole or in part, upon the parent's sincerely held religious or moral beliefs regarding sexual orientation or gender identity."
However, the bill does state that it "does not preclude the department from considering the religious or moral beliefs of an adoptive or foster child, or their family of origin, when determining the most appropriate placement for that child. Additionally, this bill must be read in harmony with the duty of the department to make placements consistent with the best interests of the child."
Democrats were outraged by the bill, which they branded "hateful" and "immoral."
“Discrimination cloaked under the guise of religion is still discrimination. Hate cloaked under the veil of religion is still hate,” Democrat State Rep. Justin Jones said in a floor speech. “You stated that you want these kids to be sent into a home where they can be loved, where they can flourish. Can you explain the logic of a child being placed into a home where they are told they are wrong, that their identity is wrong, that they don’t belong, that they made a mistake with who they are? How can they flourish in such an environment?"
“This legislature has done everything that it can to bully LGBTQ+ children, and it is wrong,” Jones continued. “This legislature should be ashamed.”
Republican Rep. Mary Littleton, who sponsored the bill, explained that it is meant to protect citizens from having their religious views infringed upon by the government.
“This bill aims to protect the moral and religious beliefs of adoptees and foster parents,” Littleton said during debate over the legislation. “This bill does not disregard the values and beliefs of the child.”
The bill will now head to Republican Governor Bill Lee's desk for a signature.
