At the end of May, the Texas Senate passed House Bill 3859, which includes religious protections for child welfare agencies. This bill protects child welfare providers from legal retaliation if they assert their "sincerely held religious beliefs" while caring for abused and neglected children in foster care and Child Protective Services custody, according to Texas Tribune. Basically, the religious beliefs of the agency would be placed above the child's best interest. There is nothing wrong with being religious, but it shouldn't be an excuse to discriminate or harm others in any way.
Speaking of discrimination, according to Human Rights Campaign, this bill creates the potential to discriminate against potential foster parents who are of the LGBTQ community, interfaith, single, divorced, or if there is any religious objection (if the potential parents are Jewish or Muslim, for example). Not only that, but kids in foster care who are LGBTQ can get discriminated. For example, an agency caring for LGBTQ youth could send the child to conversion therapy, if it were consistent with the agency's religious beliefs. The Daily Beast explains that religious agencies can deny services to children and teens if they do not match the religious beliefs of the agency. For example, the agency can deny birth control or condoms for sexually active teens in foster care. Not only that, but the agency can also deny abortions or anything that could lead to abortion. Kids who are placed in a religious agency are expected to follow the religious beliefs of the agency. Clearly, this bill doesn't include the "best interest of the child" as much as the senators claim it does. These are the same people who claim to be pro-life and want women to put their babies up for adoption instead of getting an abortion. Well, if they pass bills preventing people who have different religious beliefs or are of a different sexual orientation, it will just prevent kids from getting adopted. The only people who shouldn't be allowed to adopt are those who have major criminal records or are drug addicts. Being gay shouldn't prevent one from adopting if they are qualified to do so. Kids need a loving home and support system. They don't care about someone's sexual orientation or if the person comes from a different religion.
The definitions in this bill are foggy. ThinkProgress says that the other states that have passed similar bills, such as South Dakota and Alabama, have specified "child placement services" as their definition. However, the Texas bill states "child welfare services." These can include assistance for abused/neglected children, counseling for children and/or parents, providing foster homes, general residential operations, residential care, adoptive homes, group homes, temporary group shelters for children, and providing family services. This is how foster kids who are LGBTQ can get discriminated.
This bill clearly violates separation of church and state. Religion shouldn't seep into governmental processes. If something is against your religion, just don't do it. It's that simple. It's okay to not agree with someone's religion, but the beliefs shouldn't prevent you from doing your job...or adopting children. As I mentioned earlier, your beliefs shouldn't be used to discriminate or shame other people. That is like getting upset with someone for eating a cake because you're on a diet.
