The House recently passed bills that will enshrine the right to discriminate into law and make it harder for children in the foster care system to find permanent, loving families. House Bills 4188, 4189 and 4190 allow faith-based adoption agencies to use their faith as a reason to turn down adoptions. This means that they could deny services to single adults, same-sex couples or even married couples who follow a different religion.
The Michigan House Democrats have fought against these bills because we believe that all children waiting to be adopted deserve the best chance possible to find a loving home, and because we believe that faith should never be an excuse to discriminate.
The bills are now advancing to the Michigan Senate. We’ll keep you updated on their progress.
Learn more about these bills:
- Democratic Representatives Warn that Adoption Bills will Harm Children
- Statement from Rep. Jeremy Moss on the passage of bills allowing faith-based discrimination by adoption agencies
- Michigan House OKs bills on faith-based adoption refusal
UPDATE
In late April, a Senate committee held testimony on these bills. During emotional testimony, nearly everyone who spoke urged the Senate to drop these bills. However, they were voted out of committee anyway. The proposals are now waiting on a vote by the full Senate.