Ninth Circuit sides with Oregon mom denied adoption over not affirming gender ideology

A federal appeals court ruled on Thursday in favor of an Oregon mother who was denied the ability to seek adoption by the state after she refused to affirm gender ideology as part of the application.

A three judge panel on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled 2-1 in favor of Jessica Bates, finding the Oregon policy requiring adoptive parents to “respect, accept, and support” a child’s gender identity, expression, or sexual orientation, likely violates the First Amendment for infringing on her “sincerely held religious beliefs.” Judge Daniel Bress wrote the majority ruling, joined by Judge Michael Hawkins, while Judge Richard Clifton dissented from the majority.