Current Bills in the States
Even before the Supreme Court ruled to require states to license and recognize same-sex marriage in Obergefell v. Hodges (2015), we saw states discriminate against those who believe in natural marriage.
Now, after the Obergefell ruling, the pressure to approve of same-sex marriage is continuously increasing for religious schools, nonprofits, public employees, private employees, small business owners, and entities interacting with the government via grants, contracts, or other means. All of these entities (and more) should be protected from government coercion that would make them violate their consciences.
Government Nondiscrimination acts (GNDAs) prohibit the state from penalizing individuals and entities for their moral or religious beliefs that marriage is the union between one man and one woman and/or the belief that sexual relationships are properly reserved for such marriages. GNDAs also protect individuals and entities from being penalized for believing that sex is biologically determined. States need to pass legislation now to protect individuals and entities from state discrimination on the basis of their beliefs in natural marriage.
See the list below for Government Nondiscrimination Acts introduced in the states in this year.
If your state has an external link, click to take action and send a letter to your state legislators!
Further resources:
Religious organizations are heavily involved in adoption and foster care, and are a vital resource for helping find homes for children. Many of these organizations are uniquely gifted at finding homes for children who have special needs and can be difficult to place. These organizations are highly effective in placing children, in part, because they have an organic network of local churches to help with placement. Unfortunately, faith-based adoption and foster care agencies are increasingly under attack for their policies and beliefs about the nature of marriage and family. Some agencies have suffered government discrimination and have been hampered or forced to halt their operations because they were unwilling to violate their religious beliefs.
Child Welfare Provider Inclusion Acts (also known as CWPIA’s) protect these agencies from government discrimination based on protected beliefs in the context of providing adoption and foster care services. CWPIA’s ensure that more children receive the care they need, not less, as opponents may argue. This is because these bills ensure that there is an “all hands on deck” approach to the foster care crisis. Allowing religious adoption providers to continue to operate according to their convictions keeps them in the marketplace and benefits the kids and families who work with them.
Scroll through the list below to see CWPIA’s introduced in the states in this year.
If your state has an external link, click to take action and send a letter to your state legislators!
Further resources:
