LGBTQ Adoption

Motion Graphics

Topics surrounding the LGBTQ community are heavily debated and controversial. For decades, people have fought for rights and equality for the LGBTQ community. An increasing number of people are more open minded to the community, however, others are still very against the idea of other people being lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and/or queer. Nearly one in five hate crimes reported in the United States are towards the LGBTQ community. Despite the legalization of same-sex marriage in June 2015, LGBTQ couples still face discrimination and are often denied by some adoption agencies.

This video describes the history and obstacles people in the LGBTQ community face on a daily basis surrounding the topic of adoption rights. Members of the community have fought long fearless battles to get the same rights and privileges straight cisgender people do. Although the community has come a long way, the fight for anti-discrimination is unfortunately not over yet.

Song: Reveal the Path by Where the Good Way Lies

*DISCLAIMER*
This video was made in the summer of 2017. In recent news, the Trump administration has proposed a new rule which would allow adoption agencies to deny services to LGBTQ families. This would roll back an Obama-era proposed rule that would classify sexual orientation and gender identity as protected classes, which are protected against discrimination.

On January 24th, 2020, the Tennessee Governor, Bill Lee, signed a measure that would allow religious adoption agencies to discriminate against LGBTQ families in that state. Currently, 23 states and one U.S. territory allow LGBTQ families to adopt. However, in two of those states, they allow state-licensed child welfare agencies to refuse to provide services to LGBTQ people if it conflicts with their religious beliefs.

On June 3rd, 2020, the Trump Administration’s Justice Department filed a brief to the Supreme Court to allow taxpayer-funded adoption agencies to refuse service to LGBTQ couples. The brief is filed in the case of Fulton vs. City of Philadelphia. The case centers a nonprofit child welfare organization, Catholic Social Services, who refused to place foster children to LGBTQ couples. Their refusal is in direct defiance of the city’s nondiscrimination ordinance.