172 Members of Congress Submit Amicus Brief On Ending Discrimination in Foster Care and Adoption
DATE: August 20, 2020
CONTACT: laura.brantley@mail.house.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
172 Members of Congress Submit Amicus Brief
On Ending Discrimination in Foster Care and Adoption
Washington, D.C. – Today, 148 Members of the House, along with 24 Senators, submitted an amicus brief on Fulton v. City of Philadelphia, an upcoming Supreme Court case that focuses on the issue of discrimination in the foster care and adoption system. The effort was led in the House by Representative Angie Craig, a Co-Chair of the Congressional LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus and the first lesbian mom to serve in Congress, and in the Senate by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. This amicus brief was signed by all seven Co-Chairs and all twenty Vice Chairs of the Equality Caucus along with House leaders Speaker Pelosi, Leader Hoyer and Whip Clyburn.
“No parent should ever be denied the opportunity to build a family because of who they love or how they identify, and no child should ever be mistreated because of their identity,” said Caucus Co-Chair Angie Craig. “All that should matter is that children are placed in a safe, loving home. I’m honored to lead the amicus brief in the case of Fulton v. City of Philadelphia and to serve as a champion in making sure LGBTQ adoptive and foster parents and children are treated with the respect they deserve.”
“As a nation, our most important responsibility is to provide for the health, education and well-being of our children,” said Speaker Nancy Pelosi. “Yet, across the country, Republicans continue to push a morally bankrupt campaign to sacrifice the well-being of children to push a bigoted anti-LGBTQ agenda, denying countless vulnerable children the opportunity to find a loving and safe home. With this brief, House Democrats reaffirm our commitment to oppose these deeply offensive efforts as we work to ensure that discrimination has no place in our foster and adoption systems or in any part of our democracy.”
“Every child deserves a loving home, and responsible and caring parents who wish to provide a safe and loving home to foster or adoptive children ought to be able to do so, regardless of whether those parents are of the opposite sex or same sex. That’s why I’m proud to sign on to the amicus brief along with Rep. Angie Craig and many of our House Democratic colleagues in the case of Fulton v. City of Philadelphia, which will be heard by the Supreme Court next term,” said Leader Steny Hoyer. “This case is central to the fight against discrimination targeting LGBTQ Americans and their families, and House Democrats will continue to carry that fight forward, as we did when we passed the Equality Act last year. I thank Rep. Craig and all those who signed onto this brief, and I look forward to continuing to work with them to make it clear that Congress will not stand for discrimination against LGBTQ Americans in any form.”
"There are hundreds of thousands of children in foster care right now and they deserve the chance to be raised by loving and caring parents, regardless of sexual identity or orientation. I am proud to lead the amicus brief in the case of Fulton v. City of Philadelphia to end the anti-LGBTQ discrimination in the foster care and adoption system that continues to prevent LGBTQ parents from adopting and fostering vulnerable children,” said Senator Kirsten Gillibrand.
“There are so many innocent children who need a good home, and so many parents who are ready, willing and able to provide one – but they’re turned away just because of who they are and who they love. As the father of three amazing kids and an out Member of Congress, fighting this discrimination against LGBTQ families is one of my top priorities. I’m proud to join this amicus brief, and will continue to fight against these attacks to LGBTQ parents, kids, and our foster care and adoption systems,” said Caucus Co-Chair Sean Patrick Maloney.
“Foster parents can be some of the best parents in the world,” said Caucus Co-Chair David Cicilline. “Individuals helping kids without a roof over their heads to find warm and loving homes are heroes in their own right. For an organization to keep LGBTQ individuals from fostering children because of their religious beliefs is not only discriminatory, but willfully harmful to these kids. I’m proud to join this amicus brief in Fulton vs. City of Philadelphia to get us one step closer to equality for all.”
Please contact Shawn Gaylord at 202-257-8416 or shawn.gaylord@mail.house.gov with press inquiries.
Founded in 2008, the mission of the Congressional LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus is to promote lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) equality. The Caucus, which is led by the seven openly LGBTQ+ members of Congress, is strongly committed to achieving the full enjoyment of human rights for LGBTQ+ people in the U.S. and around the world.
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