Susan's Place Transgender Resources

News and Events => Political and Legal News => Topic started by: AnneK on May 12, 2017, 06:16:06 AM

Title: Texas House approves bill letting adoption agencies reject LGBTQ families on rel
Post by: AnneK on May 12, 2017, 06:16:06 AM
https://www.thestar.com/news/world/2017/05/11/texas-house-approves-bill-letting-adoption-agencies-reject-lgbtq-families-on-religious-grounds.html (https://www.thestar.com/news/world/2017/05/11/texas-house-approves-bill-letting-adoption-agencies-reject-lgbtq-families-on-religious-grounds.html)
Title: Re: Texas House approves bill letting adoption agencies reject LGBTQ families on rel
Post by: Devlyn on May 12, 2017, 11:08:30 AM
I like reading bills as they're written, not a reporters take. Why does this article fail to provide the name of the bill? Reporting should be about the five W's; Who, What, Where, When, and Why.
Title: Re: Texas House approves bill letting adoption agencies reject LGBTQ families on rel
Post by: AnneK on May 12, 2017, 11:45:32 AM
Well, that bill should be a matter of public record, so those who want more info can find it.

News articles tend to be an overview and I'll sometimes go searching for more info, but generally the article is sufficient.  At least you now know to look further.
Title: Re: Texas House approves bill letting adoption agencies reject LGBTQ families on rel
Post by: Devlyn on May 12, 2017, 11:47:55 AM
Nah. The article should list the details. Otherwise, it's just he said/she said. Poor writing.

Hugs, Devlyn
Title: Re: Texas House approves bill letting adoption agencies reject LGBTQ families on rel
Post by: Devlyn on May 12, 2017, 11:51:03 AM
It's HB 3859.
Title: Re: Texas House approves bill letting adoption agencies reject LGBTQ families on rel
Post by: AnneK on May 12, 2017, 12:08:26 PM
Also, bear in mind the target audience for that article.  It was in a Toronto newspaper, in Canada.  So, we'd not be as interested in all the gory details, as someone in Texas would be.  In local news articles, they tend to go into more detail.  Also, that article came from the New York Times, so maybe you should yell at them.  ;)
Title: Re: Texas House approves bill letting adoption agencies reject LGBTQ families on rel
Post by: Devlyn on May 12, 2017, 12:17:38 PM
Without facts it's just a rumour.
Title: Re: Texas House approves bill letting adoption agencies reject LGBTQ families on rel
Post by: Devlyn on May 12, 2017, 12:21:38 PM
Also, the Times links to the bill, which was omitted by this rag The Star.  :laugh:
Title: Re: Texas House approves bill letting adoption agencies reject LGBTQ families on rel
Post by: SophieD on May 12, 2017, 12:40:10 PM
http://www.legis.state.tx.us/tlodocs/85R/billtext/pdf/HB03859I.pdf

Hope this helps.
Title: Re: Texas House approves bill letting adoption agencies reject LGBTQ families on rel
Post by: SophieD on May 12, 2017, 12:48:13 PM
Texas House passes bill allowing LGBT discrimination in same-sex adoptions

http://www.salon.com/2017/05/10/texas-freedom-to-serve-childen-act-lgbt-adoption/

Thursday, May 11, 2017 12:08 AM CEST

by Nico Lang

According to experts, the act not only allows adoption and foster care agencies to prevent children from being placed in same-sex households but would permit them to subject youth to anti-LGBT counseling, including conversion therapy. Advocates in the state warned about a similar measure under consideration last year.
Title: Re: Texas House approves bill letting adoption agencies reject LGBTQ families on rel
Post by: Janes Groove on May 12, 2017, 12:55:20 PM
Quote from: SophieD on May 12, 2017, 12:48:13 PM
Texas House passes bill allowing LGBT discrimination in same-sex adoptions

http://www.salon.com/2017/05/10/texas-freedom-to-serve-childen-act-lgbt-adoption/

Thursday, May 11, 2017 12:08 AM CEST

by Nico Lang

According to experts, the act not only allows adoption and foster care agencies to prevent children from being placed in same-sex households but would permit them to subject youth to anti-LGBT counseling, including conversion therapy. Advocates in the state warned about a similar measure under consideration last year.


Although I've never been a parent I don't understand the theory here.  Is it that they think it is better to allow these poor children to languish in foster care rather than be placed permanently with a loving LGBT couple?

Title: Re: Texas House approves bill letting adoption agencies reject LGBTQ families on rel
Post by: AnneK on May 12, 2017, 01:00:49 PM
QuoteIs it that they think it is better to allow these poor children to languish in foster care rather than be placed permanently with a loving LGBT couple?

Well, according to that guy in Missouri, gays aren't human.

One thing is clear is that so much of this blatant discrimination is caused by religious belief.  Perhaps it's time the world started discriminating against "believers".  The way some of them raise their kids is nothing short of child abuse.
Title: Re: Texas House approves bill letting adoption agencies reject LGBTQ families on rel
Post by: SophieD on May 12, 2017, 01:12:27 PM
Quote from: AnneK on May 12, 2017, 01:00:49 PM
Well, according to that guy in Missouri, gays aren't human.

One thing is clear is that so much of this blatant discrimination is caused by religious belief.  Perhaps it's time the world started discriminating against "believers". 

I am sure bigotry is not typical of religious-minded people.  I wouldn't judge all by the attitudes of a few.
Title: Re: Texas House approves bill letting adoption agencies reject LGBTQ families on rel
Post by: AnneK on May 12, 2017, 01:39:42 PM
Perhaps not all, but certainly a significant number.  Even within a religion, they'll often discriminate if you're not in their particular version.  For example, look at catholics vs protestants, or even, as I experienced, going to the wrong protestant christian church.  I recall a few years ago, when the pope got together with Jewish and Muslim leaders and how they all had a great get together etc.  But the conference was barely over when the pope said it proved how everyone could all get along, provided they all accepted Christ.  You don't have to look far to find some religion inspired bigotry, hatred or violence.  Also, do you think those all anti-LGBQT laws we're seeing would have appeared, if a significant portion of the population didn't support them?

Title: Re: Texas House approves bill letting adoption agencies reject LGBTQ families on rel
Post by: Janes Groove on May 12, 2017, 02:26:02 PM
Quote from: AnneK on May 12, 2017, 01:00:49 PM
Well, according to that guy in Missouri, gays aren't human.

I'm not so sure that all this is JUST about gays.   T is also a part of the LGBT community.
I mean if that is the theory then why not take it a step further? If LGBT parents are not fit to be adoptive parents then wouldn't that same unfitness apply to biological LGBT parents as well?  I can't help but wonder if the next logical step is to step in and take children away from the homes of parents who they deem so obviously unfit at parenting.  I mean what is the logical endpoint of this theory?


Title: Re: Texas House approves bill letting adoption agencies reject LGBTQ families on rel
Post by: RobynD on May 12, 2017, 02:27:54 PM
I'd also be a little careful to paint all religious people/Christians etc with the same brush. I can totally understand the consternation and anger towards them at times. Indeed the ones we see with radical views in the media may be unfairly representing the groups as a whole.

There are churches of course where their doctrine are very anti-lgtb and then put in place efforts to deny us rights in the misguided belief that it is what Jesus would do and to fight their culture wars. This actually ends up killing some of us, so they do have blood on their hands. People have been using reliegon for evil since the beginning of civilization.

Other churches though are LGTB affirming and accepting and even ones that may have some doctrine buried somewhere from the past that would seemingly be against us, are not by what they practice.

I agree with you though this culture war junk is tiring and hurtful. The very concerning part of this legislation is that it would potentially allow these organizations to attempt "conversion therapy" on LGTBQ kids, and we know how cruel that is. What is not clear to me is how many adoption agencies as a percentage of all are truly "faith organizations" such as Catholic Services etc.



Title: Re: Texas House approves bill letting adoption agencies reject LGBTQ families on rel
Post by: AnneK on May 12, 2017, 02:40:26 PM
Well, I live in Ontario.  Around here we have a separate catholic children's aid and a catholic school system, both funded with tax dollars and both practicing religious discrimination on the taxpayers dime.  No other religions get their own institutions at taxpayers expense.  However, that doesn't stop them from trying to block things like proper sex education and more.