In June of 2015, same-sex couples were given the right to marry, and while some people thought this was the end of the fight for equality among the LGBTQ community, recent events would prove otherwise. Not only has the Supreme Court ruled in favor of a baker who refused service to a same-sex couple, but an amendment has been approved to allow privatized adoption agencies the right to deny LGBTQ families from adopting.

While consideration for a funding bill was being processed, a vote for an amendment on gay adoption was also taking place. Representative Robert Aderholt, a republican from Alabama, proposed this amendment with the intent to help adoption providers deny same-sex couples the right to adopt children. The House of Appropriations voted 29-23 in favor of this amendment, and though the bill still needs approval from the house and the senate, as well as a signature from President Trump, this is still an action that is weighing heavily on the chests of many LGBTQ individuals.

Though this amendment is solely focused on making it harder for LGBTQ parents, it is hidden under the guise of "religious objection" which ultimately makes it harder for any parent who goes against the specific agencies beliefs. Such objections include, but are not limited to, couples of mixed faiths, couples of which at least one member has been divorced, single parents, and any objection the private agencies should see fit. This drastically shrinks the pool of eligible people ready to take on the role of a parent.

These obstacles, along with other recent activities, such as ICE tearing children away from their parents at the border, makes it seem as if protecting and nurturing our nations children is not what our government is focused on in this moment. Rather than these children, the administration seems to want a specific type of family to be at the forefront of our nation, and there is not much to be done about that. As a country, our best chance at fighting injustices such as this one is at the polls this November.