After controversy regarding LGBT+ issues, the state of Kentucky has signed a contract deal to continue working with a local Baptist adoption agency.
On Thursday, Kentucky stated that they would continue to place children with Sunrise Children's Services, a Baptist-affiliated adoption agency.
Kentucky had recently changed its adoption-oriented legal language to accommodate LGBT+ couples who wanted to adopt.
Sunrise's officials told the Associated Press that the "disputed nondiscrimination language would have compelled them to violate deeply held religious principles by sponsoring same-sex couples as foster parents" and that they were seeking a way to uphold their own beliefs while also respecting the children. Sunrise and Kentucky had initially set June 30th as the final date for when they would need to determine their future.
A recent Supreme Court case offered the state an answer. Fulton V. City of Philadelphia was a recent case where the Court decided to reverse a city's decision to stop sending kids to a Catholic social services provider due to their convictions about housing children with LGBT+ couples.
Sunrise's attorney immediately gripped this policy, arguing that their situation was comparable to that of Fulton. Any attempt to restrict Sunrise's ability to abide by their convictions would breach the Free Expression Clause. Any attempts to challenge that would end likely end in a federal lawsuit.
They also promised to help steer LGBT+ couples to other agencies that may be a "better fit." The adoption agency also promised that they would gladly accept LGBT+ youth and not push conversion therapy.
Kentucky's adoption practices are not unique. Kentucky partners with private organizations to fulfill its child welfare services.
