FFS - Tennessee Passes Bill Allowing *Non-Accepting Parents* To Adopt LGBTQ+ Kids - possibily to conversion therapy

[RKP5637]

https://www.erininthemorning.com/p/tennessee-passes-bill-allowing-non

The bill may allow parents to adopt or foster LGBTQ+ kids and put them through conversion therapy, according to advocacy organizations.

On Monday evening, Tennessee passed a bill allowing parents with "religious or moral beliefs" that being LGBTQ+ is wrong to adopt LGBTQ+ children. This bill could expose these children to harmful practices such as conversion therapy or familial rejection of their gender identity or sexuality. If signed into law, it could also come into conflict with federal rules that require safe placements for LGBTQ youth. The bill now goes to Governor Bill Lee's desk, amid calls from leading LGBTQ+ organizations for a veto.

Under this bill, Tennessee would be prohibited from deeming parents unfit for adoption if they reject transgender youth, believing such identities to be sinful. Similarly, the state would be required to allow parents who are religiously or morally opposed to homosexuality to adopt gay children. If a parent believes that conversion therapy through their church can "cure" LGBTQ+ identification, this belief cannot be considered contrary to the best interest of an LGBTQ+ child. The bill risks exposing every LGBTQ+ child in the state to potential religious abuse, conversion therapy, and family rejection.

This could be particularly harmful given the high overrepresentation of LGBTQ+ youth in the foster care system. For example, studies indicate that 30% of youth in the foster care system identify as LGBTQ+, and 5% as transgender. Many of these youth have faced rejection or abuse from their families of origin. They are also more likely to have a history of being subjected to conversion therapy. Placement with new families that subject them to the same harmful practices could have disastrous outcomes. LGBTQ+ youth who are subjected to conversion therapy are more than 2.5 times as likely to report multiple suicide attempts in the previous year.

Representative Justin Jones had scathing words for the bill, stating, “I find it interesting that the word ‘moral’ is in this bill, because this bill is immoral. Discrimination cloaked under the guise of religion is still discrimination. Hate cloaked under the veil of religion is still hate… 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. This legislature should be ashamed,” he closed.

[sinkingfeeling]

1. Disgusting. But, Tennessee is moving up in the race for 'most fascist state'.

[RKP5637]

4. It just keeps getting uglier and uglier in TN.

[chowder66]

2. That's fucking abuse!

[RKP5637]

3. Absolutely!!!

[Bettie]

5. So, they want to send children into

harmful situations, purposefully.

What the actual fuck?

Of course, I expect Kim Reynolds to be on this one as soon as someone reads the article to her.

[RKP5637]

8. They don't care about the children, they are being used. It's psyops optics for votes, power and control.

It is child abuse by the TN government. It's horrible and dangerous. It can lead to suicides or maladjustment for life and is against ALL medical advice to help children. Some of these conversion outfits torture the children for money/profit and some for their sadistic enjoyment.

[Initech]

6. Every day, the MAGAs drag us into new fresh hell every single day.

This is definitely abusive. Fuck these cretins.

[RKP5637]

7. I won't even drive through TN if I can avoid it and definitely no overnight lodging or meals.

[Sky Jewels]

9. Pure evil.

[Marthe48]

10. I'd rather be an orphan

n/t

[pfitz59]

11. And if the child refuses to be 'adopted'?

Can the the court just force him or her into these families?

[RKP5637]

12. Excellent question!!!