Jessica Bates is a devout Christian, and as such, felt compelled to adopt children in need out of the foster care system. But it was that same faith that the state of Oregon used against Bates, denying her the opportunity to take in the needy.
Bates, who lost her husband six years ago in a car collision, was months into the adoption process when she noticed the emphasis on LGBT policies, specifically that she must “respect, accept, and support” the sexual orientation or “gender identity” of any child that could be placed in her home. When she notified the state that she couldn’t comply with such a policy because of her religious beliefs, her application was put on hold, and then two months later she was completely denied from adopting.
Now, with the representation of Christian legal advocacy group Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), Bates is fighting back. The widow has filed a federal lawsuit against Oregon, hoping to eliminate the Department of Human Services (DHS) policy that she believes discriminates against people of faith.
“There is a Department of Human Services policy that says parents or prospective caregivers have to ‘respect, accept, and support’ hypothetical child sexual orientation, gender…
