Lesbian Couple HHS Challenge Advances

As the Trump administration attempts to chip away LGBTQ equality, a U.S. District Court has denied the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) & the state of South Carolina from dismissing a lawsuit filed on behalf of Eden Rogers & Brandy Welch a married lesbian couple by Lambda Legal, the ACLU, the ACLU of South Carolina & South Carolina Equality. The couple was turned away by a government-funded foster care agency because of their sexual orientation. Brandy Welch & Eden Rogers stated, “We are very excited to hear our case is going forward in court. There are many children in South Carolina that need foster homes & we remain hopeful that couples like us can provide children a lovely home without being rejected or discriminated against.” Miracle Hill Ministries, South Carolina’s largest state-contracted foster care agency denied Eden & Brandy’s application to serve as foster parents after South Carolina requested & HHS granted a waiver of federal nondiscrimination rules for federally funded agencies. In doing so HHS & the State authorized & enabled taxpayer-funded foster care agencies to use religious criteria to exclude families based on their faith & sexual orientation. Currey Cook, Counsel & Director of the Youth In Out-Of-Home Care Project at Lambda Legal concluded, “This is great news & we look forward to Eden’s & Brandy’s day in court. No child in foster care who can’t safely be with their family should be denied the opportunity of a loving & nurturing foster home simply because the prospective parents don’t meet a taxpayer-funded agency’s religious litmus test. Eden’s & Brandy’s faith & sexual orientation have no bearing on their suitability to provide a home for children in need.”
For More Info: lambdalegal.org
LISTEN: Robert Lo Talks Alset App To Reboot Gig Economy

LISTEN: 500+ Podcasts w/ LGBTQ Leaders & Celebrities