New York
state officials decided to settle a lawsuit with a Christian-based adoption agency that was sued for alleged discrimination against
LGBT
couples.
The feud between the New York State Office of Children and Family Services and New Hope Family Services began in 2018 after the state office threatened to close the nonprofit
adoption
and pregnancy resource center regarding its policy of placing children in homes with a married mother and father. The settlement means that New York’s Office of Children and Family Services can no longer target the adoption agency for its religious policies, according to a
press release
from Alliance Defending Freedom, which had its attorneys representing the agency in the lawsuit.
“Every child deserves a home with a loving mother and father who are committed to each other,” said New Hope Family Services Executive Director Kathy Jerman. “New Hope walks with adoptive families and birth parents alike to place children with adoptive families. It’s regrettable that New York ever threatened to shut down our adoption services, through which we have placed more than 1,000 children with adoptive families since we began in 1965. We live in a diverse state, and we need more adoption providers, not fewer. We’re grateful this case has reached a favorable end that allows us to keep serving children and families.”
A GLIMMER OF HOPE FOR FREE SPEECH AT YALE LAW SCHOOL
The decision by state officials to settle the New Hope Family Services v. Poole lawsuit comes after a federal district court issued an order on Sept. 7 of last year to prevent New York permanently from shutting down New Hope Family Services for its religious beliefs.
The Office of Children and Family Services officials had initially given New Hope Family Services a positive review in October 2018 after an inspection, but a few days later, informed the adoption agency that its policy not to place children with same-sex or unmarried couples violated Title 18 NYCRR Section 421.3,
which prohibits
“discrimination and harassment against applicants for adoption services” based on sexual orientation and marital status. New Hope was told to comply with Section 421.3, or else it would be “choosing to close,”
according to
the lawsuit.
New Hope Family Services started as an adoption agency in 1965 and is based in Syracuse, New York. In 1986, the agency also became a pregnancy center offering counseling and resources for women and men facing pregnancy decisions,
according to
the agency’s website.
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The agency accepts no government funding and receives its funding via support from churches, individual donors, and private grants.
The Washington Examiner contacted the Office of Children and Family Services for comment.
