Foster parents no longer punished under US state’s ‘preferred pronouns’ diktat

Foster families in the US state of Washington can no longer be forced affirm transgender ideology, following a legal challenge over religious discrimination.

Shane and Jennifer DeGross sued the Washington Department of Children, Youth, and Families, after their foster licence was revoked in 2022 for refusing to comply with its new pronouns policy. The couple promised to love any child placed with them, but not encourage the notion of ‘changing sex’, because “as image bearers of God, a person should live consistent with their God-given sex rather than contrary to God’s design”.

The state department has now reached a settlement where it has agreed to never penalise families for their religious convictions on “marriage, gender, or sexual relationships”, and pay legal fees of $250,000.

‘Win-win’

Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) represented the couple. ADF Senior Counsel Johannes Widmalm-Delphonse said: “The DeGrosses merely asked to be treated the same as any other family—without being asked to compromise their core beliefs.

“This is a win-win because it will ensure more families can serve as foster parents to help meet the needs of every precious child in Washington’s foster-care system.

“We are thrilled to see common sense and religious liberty prevail.”

‘Embracing truth’

Foster carers in Vermont won a similar victory earlier this year, as guidance was changed to state that an applicant’s “sincerely held personal, cultural, religious, moral, or philosophical beliefs shall not be considered in the licensing process”.

Following the outcome, Pastor Brian Wuoti told the Presidential Religious Liberty Commission how he and his wife Kaitlyn had “tried to live by God’s call, to do justice, love mercy, and to care for the orphaned”.

“Thankfully”, he explained, “after more than three years of litigation, Vermont finally agreed to rescind its decision, allow us to reapply for our licence and end its discriminatory policy”.

He concluded: “The government shouldn’t target parents who embrace the truth that there are only two sexes, equal in worth, different in design.”