{"id":64788,"date":"2018-02-21T14:26:41","date_gmt":"2018-02-21T19:26:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.gayfriendschat.com\/socialblog\/georgia-senate-panel-approves-bill-allowing-adoption-agencies-to-deny-gay-couples\/"},"modified":"2018-02-21T14:26:41","modified_gmt":"2018-02-21T19:26:41","slug":"georgia-senate-panel-approves-bill-allowing-adoption-agencies-to-deny-gay-couples","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gayfriendschat.com\/socialblog\/georgia-senate-panel-approves-bill-allowing-adoption-agencies-to-deny-gay-couples\/","title":{"rendered":"Georgia Senate Panel Approves Bill Allowing Adoption Agencies to Deny Gay Couples"},"content":{"rendered":"

Georgia Senate Panel Approves Bill Allowing Adoption Agencies to Deny Gay Couples<\/b>
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William Ligon (Screenshot Via YouTube<\/a>)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

The Georgia<\/a> Senate Judiciary Committee has passed a bill that would allow faith-based adoption agencies to refuse to place children with same-sex<\/a> couples<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Senate Bill 375<\/b><\/a> (\u201cKeep Faith in Adoption and Foster Care Act\u201d) would also prohibit the Georgia Department of Human Services from taking \u201cadverse action\u201d against such agencies.<\/span><\/p>\n

RELATED:\u00a0Georgia GOP Lawmakers Add Anti-LGBT Provision to Adoption Bill in Sneak Attack<\/a><\/em><\/h2>\n

The bill was introduced earlier this month by state Republican Senator William Ligon<\/a>. A Senate Judiciary subcommittee met on February 8th to take up the bill, moving to send it on to the full committee.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Because to be clear: SB 375 “Keep the Faith in Foster and Adoption” bill was proposed by William Ligon, Republican from BRUNSWICK, GEORGIA. AIN’T SHIT IN BRUNSWICK EXCEPT CAUSEWAYS TO THE GOLDEN ISLES. BUT YOU WANNA INTRODUCE SHIT THAT IMPACTS THE WHOLE STATE.<\/p>\n

\u2014 D. Danyelle Thomas (@UnfitChristian) February 19, 2018<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

No public comments allowed, the bill passed along party lines and it will now head to the Senate floor for a vote.<\/span><\/p>\n

Georgia Voice<\/b><\/a><\/em> reports:<\/span><\/p>\n

During Tuesday morning\u2019s hearing, Ligon argued that passage of the bill would allow for more opportunities for adoption instead of less. State Sen. Elena Parent (D-Atlanta) questioned that claim, and pointed out that religious adoption agencies in Georgia already have the ability to refuse to place children with same-sex<\/a> couples<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt seems like [the bill is] dealing with problems that do not exist, although it might make people feel better,\u201d Parent said.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not a matter of feeling,\u201d Ligon responded.<\/span><\/p>\n

Parent added:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere are LGBT kids who are in the system, and they\u2019re more likely to be in the system than kids who don\u2019t identify as lesbian<\/a> or gay<\/a>, so I think there\u2019s a real question about whether they could be harmed. The legislation puts the religious beliefs of those who serve kids above the kids themselves, and that\u2019s why I have a particular problem with this.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Parent and fellow Democrat Harold V. Jones were the only \u201cno\u201d votes against the bill. <\/span><\/p>\n

In an email sent the day before the vote, Georgia Unites Against Discrimination (GUAD) wrote:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe can\u2019t let lawmakers forget what\u2019s at stake. First and foremost, the well-being of the nearly 14,000 children in our adoption and foster care system. Child welfare advocates have been clear that allowing adoption agencies to discriminate won\u2019t help place more children with loving families \u2014 in fact, it would let LGBT youth languish even longer in the system. And SB 375 could deal a serious blow to our chances of landing Amazon\u2019s new headquarters. That\u2019s why this morning, the Atlanta Metro Chamber and the Georgia Chamber spoke out strongly in the AJC against this bill. Rush a message to your senator now letting them know Georgia simply cannot afford this license to discriminate, SB 375.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

In a statement, Cindy Armine-Klein, Chief Control Officer with Atlanta-based global payment technology solutions firm First Data, said:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFirst Data is based in Atlanta and we are proud to call<\/a> Georgia home. However, we are strongly opposed to SB 375, the proposed legislation in Georgia that we believe perpetuates discrimination against the LGBT community. First Data is committed to fostering an inclusive workplace that promotes fairness and diversity, and the proposed legislation violates our core belief that all Americans deserve to be treated equally and respectfully.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Georgia Equality\u2019s executive director Jeff Graham added \u201ct<\/span>here are only losers with this bill: children denied permanent and loving homes, and potential parents coldly turned away simply because of who they are.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The post Georgia Senate Panel Approves Bill Allowing Adoption Agencies to Deny Gay Couples<\/a> appeared first on Towleroad<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Georgia Senate Panel Approves Bill Allowing Adoption Agencies to Deny Gay Couples<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n