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ACLU says Michigan can’t pay adoption agencies that reject same-sex couples

lifelongadoptions.com

DETROIT, MI (MPRN)--   Michigan is being sued over same-sex couple adoptions and foster care placements. The ACLU says faith-based adoption agencies that take public money should not be allowed to turn away same-sex married couples based on a religious objection. 

That’s despite a 2015 law that was supposed to allow faith-based agencies to review to work with same-sex couples following the US Supreme Court decision legalizing same-sex marriage.

But the ACLU says that law does not specifically shield faith-based adoption agencies, and the practice violates specific provisions within their contracts with the state Department of Health and Human Services.

And, the lawsuit says, the practice also violates the First Amendment and the Equal Protection Clause of the US Constitution.

Kristy and Dana Dumont of Dimondale are two of the plaintiffs. Kristy Dumont says the couple was turned away by two Catholic-affiliated agencies when they tried to adopt.

“I mean, they didn’t even know us, and they made the decision solely based on who we are married to,” she says. “There are so many couples out there like us who want to provide a home for these children, and are being told no. The worst part is they are denying these kids the chance to be placed in permanent, loving families.”  

ACLU attorney Jay Kaplan says the state’s policy is also bad for 13,000 kids in Michigan waiting to be placed with a permanent home.

“Allowing agencies to discriminate could be the difference between a child finding a permanent, loving home and remaining in the system,” he says. “Michigan’s child welfare services must put child welfare first.” 

The Michigan Catholic Conference says adoption agencies should not have to violate their religious principles to fulfill their mission.

The MCC released this statement:

“Michigan’s 2015 adoption law was necessary to promote diversity in child placement and to maintain a private/public partnership that would stabilize the adoption and foster care space for years to come. This suit challenging Michigan’s law is mean-spirited, divisive and intolerant.  It is counter-productive toward efforts to assist vulnerable persons and to promote a variety of opportunities for differing families.  It is imperative for the state law to be defended from yet another egregious attack on religious faith in public life.”

The lawsuit was filed in the US District Court in Detroit.