Stop the adoption discrimination bill in the TN House

Please, vote NO on HB836 on Monday evening on the House floor.

This bill opens the door to private child placement agencies receiving taxpayer funds, even if they have a policy of turning certain parents away based on a moral or religious objection.

You may have heard that's not the case, but that is misinformation!

Section 1c of the amended bill specifically says, "To the extent allowed by federal law, a state or local government entity shall not deny to a private licensed child-placing agency any grant, contract, or participation in a government program because of the agency's objection to performing, assisting, counseling, recommending, consenting to, referring, or participating in a placement that violates the agency's written religious or moral convictions or policies."

This opens Tennessee to the same kind of court challenge that was recently settled in Michigan.

Our state's child placement policy should be based on the best interests of the child and work to match children with qualified parents.  Please, vote NO.

Thank you for considering my views.