On Tuesday, the Texas legislature passed HB 3859, a bill that would allow adoption agencies to discriminate against LGBT children and prospective parents. In addition, the bill would also allow these agencies to discriminate against prospective parents based on their religious affiliation (or lack thereof).
Adoption in Texas: Discrimination for the whole family
Texas is known for being one of the deepest red states in the nation. It's seen as the kind of place where everyone has a gun, a truck and a dog. Where everyone loves Jesus and will probably beat you up for being queer.
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In reality, Texas is a multicultural melting-pot. Her people hold a variety of views that span the entirety of the political spectrum. There are the highly visible religious conservatives, the aging hippy burnouts, the open minded good-ol'-boys who reject labels, the city dwelling millennials who aren't afraid to stand up for their rights–or bring back brunch. Texas has a growing Middle Eastern population, a large Hispanic population throughout, and major cities that are home to the most diverse populations in the world.
Unfortunately, the people here are not properly represented. Thanks to gerrymandering and rampant corruption and corporate cronyism, Texas has been sold to scavengers, and its most vulnerable children are at risk.
Because it's not just the parents that the bill goes after:
"HB 3859 would also allow agencies to require the kids already in the foster care system to comply with any faith-based requirements. This means they would be able to send children who come out as LGBTI to conversion therapy to 'turn them straight'. Also called 'gay cure therapy', it is a deeply harmful and potentially deadly practice which has been denounced by all major international health organizations. It would also allow agencies to refuse young people birth control or abortions."
In 2015, there were over 30,000 children in the foster system in the state of Texas. There are so many children, and the resources are already spread so thin, that children are being grievously injured or dying in the system. Introducing another roadblock to a loving and accepting home is the exact opposite of what children in the foster-care system or adoption agencies need.
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"Children are dying in foster care. Thousands need a safe and healthy home, LGBTQ parents can provide a loving, safe and healthy home for children in need. The passage to engrossment of HB 3859 is another step toward allowing organizations to discriminate using taxpayer money."
"Today, Texas lawmakers took our state in the wrong direction" — statement from Chuck Smith, head of Equality Texas, on HB3859:#txlege pic.twitter.com/qEiKnZT8zO
— Chuck Lindell (@chucklindell) May 10, 2017
Mary Rouse, an adoptive parent and national field director for the Human Rights Campaign had this to say before the vote:
"HB 3859 is yet another example of Texas legislators' coordinated efforts to pursue discrimination against LGBTQ people instead of focusing on the best interest of all Texans. If signed into law, this bill would most harm the children in Texas' child welfare system — kids who need a loving, stable home. Discrimination under law is unacceptable. The Senate must recognize this bill for what it is: an attempt to discriminate against LGBTQ Texans, this time targeting some of Texas' most vulnerable residents: children in the child welfare system."
And Steven Kling, who describes himself as a "hardworking progressive" running for the Texas senate posted this on his Facebook page:
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"Because religious belief, or non-belief, is such an important part of every person's life, freedom of religion affects…
Posted by Steven Kling for Texas Senate on Wednesday, May 10, 2017
"We can no longer allow ourselves to be represented by spineless cowards, so afraid of diversity that they would rather children die than see them with a family that's different from their own."
Texas children and Texas families deserve better. Remember, y'all means all.
Photo by Chris Hondros/Getty Images
The post Brainwashing Kids: Red State Bill Allows 'Faith Based' Sexuality 'Therapy' for Children appeared first on ReverbPress.
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