If passed, the federal bill introduced by this month by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) will help end anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination in the child welfare system.
Washington, D.C. — Today, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) announced the reintroduction of the John Lewis Every Child Deserves a Family Act. This critical legislation aims to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, and marital status for youth and families involved in taxpayer funded child welfare services. Additionally, the bill requires urgently needed national data collection on the sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) of youth and foster and adoptive parents in the child welfare system. It will also stand up a national resource center for LGBTQ+ children involved in the child welfare system. Representative Danny Davis (IL-07) will reintroduce the Act in the House later this year.
“As states across the country attempt to pass anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, this bill will solidify protections for some of our most marginalized and vulnerable children and enable them to find loving homes,” said Senator Gillibrand. “It will ensure that taxpayer-funded adoption service and foster care providers cannot engage in discrimination against children or potential parents. It will ban deeply damaging practices like conversion therapy and help place foster youth in safe and loving homes. I’m proud to be introducing this legislation and I look forward to fighting to get it passed.”
There are over 368,000 youth in the child welfare system, with studies showing that 1 in 3 youth in care identify as LGBTQ+ and experience greater mistreatment and worse outcomes than their non-LGBTQ+ peers. LGBTQ+ youth who have been removed from their homes have the right to government care that is affirming and supportive. The John Lewis Every Child Deserves a Family Act is a critical step toward ensuring the government fulfills its duty to promote the safety, permanency and well-being of all kids in care. The Act will also help ensure that no qualified individual, including LGBTQ+, single, and religious minority, are turned away from fostering and adopting simply because of who they are. Discrimination harms qualified individuals and all kids in care given that there is a shortage of available placements; this is especially true for LGBTQ+ prospective foster and adoptive parents.
“The John Lewis Every Child Deserves a Family Act will provide protection and support to LGBTQ+ youth in the child welfare system, creating an affirming system where youth can thrive and feel supported. By prohibiting discrimination, this bill takes a vital step towards ensuring our child welfare system meets the needs of all youth in care,” said Luce Remy, Vice President, Public Policy for Family Equality. “It ensures that any qualified individual can open their home and form their family through foster care without facing undue discrimination.”
Contact your Senator today to ask them to cosponsor the John Lewis Every Child Deserves a Family Act. Let’s get this act passed so loving foster families can help children who need it most.
About The Every Child Deserves a Family Campaign
The Every Child Deserves a Family Campaign seeks to end discrimination against LGBTQ+, Two Spirit (LGBTQ+2S) and religious minority children and families in child welfare. The Campaign seeks to dramatically improve care for children and families who experience discrimination and worse outcomes in the child welfare system, including those who are BIPOC, LGBTQ+2S, and religious minorities as well as those with disabilities. Family Equality, PFLAG National, and True Colors United co-chair the National Policy Coalition of the Every Child Deserves a Family Campaign.
About Family Equality
Family Equality is creating a world where everyone can experience the love, safety, and belonging of family. As the leading national organization for current and future LGBTQ+ families, we work to ensure that everyone has the freedom to find, form, and sustain their families by advancing LGBTQ+ equality through advocacy, support, storytelling, and education.
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Press Contact
Tonya Agnew,
Vice President,
Communications & Marketing
(765) 490-4709 / tagnew@familyequality.org