Bills to allow faith-based adoption agencies to turn away LGBT couples or anyone else for religious or moral reasons were adopted Wednesday by a state House committee on party-line votes.
The Michigan Public Radio Network’s Rick Pluta reports.
State Representative Thomas Hooker chairs the House Families, Children, and Seniors Committee. He says faith-based agencies should not have to choose between their mission to place children and their beliefs regardless of how the US Supreme Court rules later this year on same-sex marriage.
“We want to make sure we’re continue to do what we’ve been doing in the past,” he says.
Researcher Jean Howard says that’s because states with gay-friendly adoption laws have a better record of placing children with permanent families.
“Michigan is missing out on opportunities to find permanent homes for children.”