Oklahoma City, OK—The Oklahoma State Legislature is considering new religious exceptions (SB 1140) that would allow adoption and foster care placement agencies that receive state funding to discriminate against potential foster and adoptive parents based upon their religious beliefs.
For example, this bill would allow adoption and foster care placement agencies to discriminate against atheists and nonbelievers, religious minorities, single parents, LGBTQ people, or any other group of people they disfavor. This kind of discrimination reduces the number of potential adoptive parents, making children in these systems less likely to find a loving permanent home.
Sponsors of this bill claim that religious child placement agencies in other states have been forced to close due to same-sex marriage – but that is simply untrue. Instead, these agencies have a choice: they can either take government funds or they can choose to discriminate. This is the only option that is fair to the people of Oklahoma and the children involved.
SB 1140 has already passed the state senate and will be before the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, April 11.
Take action now to stop this discriminatory bill!
Please note, only Oklahoma residents will be able to participate in this action.
