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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsTX governor signs bill allowing providers to deny LGBTQ youth child welfareservices
On Thursday, Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) signed a bill that will allow child welfare service providers to decline to provide certain kinds of care based on the providers sincerely held religious beliefs. The bill, House Bill 3859, will permit discrimination against LGBTQ couples wishing to adopt children, in addition to allowing LGBTQ children to be placed under the agencies care in religious education. The bill goes into effect in September.
As ThinkProgress noted when the bill passed the Texas House in May, the bill affects not only child placement services (think adoption agencies), but group homes, counseling services, care for abused children, and other resources for children with complicated family situations. The bill will have a broad reach, affecting organizations that provide a wide variety care options for a large number of children.
When the bill goes into effect, those organizations can legally refuse to provide care for children on the basis of their sexuality or gender identity, or on the basis of the sexuality or gender identity of someone in their family, as long as the provider can cite religious beliefs. They will be able to do the same for same-gender couples wishing to adopt children, and ultimately for anyone whose situation can somehow be considered in violation of their religious beliefs.
Texas state Rep. Gina Hinojosa (D) pointed out that it could be used to justify, for example, a Christian organization refusing to provide services to a Jewish family. All an organization that denies service to someone must provide is a link to the web page on the departments Internet website that includes a list of other licensed child welfare services providers and a referral to another organization. The bill makes no mention of what a child already receiving care can do if they want that care to change.
https://thinkprogress.org/texas-governor-signs-religious-freedom-lgbtq-youth-discrimination-bill-749cf6b94ec0
Else You Are Mad
(3,040 posts)What is wrong with these religious assholes?!? Fuck you Texas.
atreides1
(16,285 posts)You can safely assume you've created God in your own image when it turns out that God hates all the same people you do.
― Anne Lamott
What I find amazing is that their "sincerely held religious beliefs" are all based on hatred...funny for God that preaches love!!!
dembotoz
(16,922 posts)on propaganda
holy shit you can see it happening here....
fucking sobering....
mountain grammy
(27,015 posts)Else You Are Mad
(3,040 posts)This first time that a Muslim successfully utilizes one of these religious freedom exemptions they will immediately repeal these laws.
WoonTars
(694 posts)Asshole...
msongs
(69,451 posts)I learned in the southern baptist church in abilene tx
Gothmog
(152,036 posts)m-lekktor
(3,675 posts)hunter
(38,717 posts)I wouldn't let him anywhere near my kids.
smirkymonkey
(63,221 posts)They are being evil just because they can be. There is no reason for it but hate.