Re: Washington state couple opposing preferred pronouns sues state for denying foster licenses

On 4/6/2024 2:29 PM, Leroy N. Soetoro wrote:
> https://komonews.com/news/local/washington-couple-sues-state-for-denying-
> foster-licenses-after-objection-to-pronouns-jennifer-and-shane-degross-
> johannes-widmalm-delphonse-department-of-children-youth-and-families-
> seattle-yakima-pasco-northwest#
> 
> TACOMA, Wash. (TND) — A Washington couple filed a lawsuit last week
> against Washington state officials who denied the pair foster care
> licenses for objecting to sexual and gender identity policies.
> 
> Jennifer and Shane DeGross opposed the Washington State Department of
> Children, Youth and Families guidelines requiring foster parents to be
> accepting of minors exploring their sexual orientation or gender identity.
> 
> Washington state officials are putting their own ideological agenda ahead
> of children who just need a loving home,” the couple’s attorney, Johannes
> Widmalm-Delphonse, argued.
> The DeGrosses alleged the department violated their First Amendment rights
> by forcing them to align with their foster children’s preferred pronouns,
> thereby forgoing religious beliefs.
> 
> “Despite the DeGrosses’ faithful service as foster parents for nine years,
> the state disqualified them simply for having views that Washington does
> not like,” Widmalm-Delphonse claimed. “Washington is putting families like
> the DeGrosses to an impossible choice: speak against your faith and lie or
> give up the opportunity to care for hurting children.”
> 
> The department told The National Desk it does not disqualify foster parent
> candidates for “sincerely held” religious beliefs. It would not, however,
> subject children to further "trauma" with unaccommodating families.
> 
> Whether a family accepts or rejects a child’s sexual orientation, gender
> identity or expression has a profound impact on their wellbeing,” a
> spokesperson noted. “In Washington, we are committed to ensuring that
> these vulnerable children and youth do not experience additional trauma
> when placed out-of-home into foster care.”
> In claiming the guidelines were unconstitutional, the DeGrosses cited a
> district court ruling establishing the department’s policies as applying
> only to children who have already identified as LGBTQ+.
> 
> “As a federal court has already affirmed in Blais v. Hunter, this
> exclusion is unconstitutional – religious beliefs about human sexuality
> are not a legitimate or constitutional reason to categorically bar
> citizens from helping children,” Widmalm-Delphonse said.
> 
> The ruling also required prospective foster parents to care for the
> physical and emotional well-being of LGBTQ+ children, according to the
> department spokesperson.
> 
> "The permanent injunction does permit [the Department of Children Youth
> and Families] to take an applicant’s views on LGBTQ+ issues into account
> when reviewing foster family home license applications or family home
> study applications,” it noted.
> 
> PineTree010
> 29 March, 2024
> 
> Also violating everyone's of our freedom of speech.  Please foster family-
> go for it.  But not on religious grounds- we all have a US Constitutional
> right to freedom of speech.  That means that government can't make
> policies that tell us how to talk to or address other people.

According to the article, the couple was denied a license for not being 
"accepting of minors exploring their sexual orientation or gender 
identity," which would encompass more than speech.