LANSING, MI (AP)— Faith-based adoption agencies that contract with the state of Michigan can refuse to place children in LGBTQ homes under a settlement filed in federal court, months after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled for a Catholic charity in a similar case.
The state Department of Health and Human Services said Tuesday the high court’s ruling against Philadelphia is binding on the state and limits its ability to enforce a non-discrimination policy.
Michigan, like most states, contracts with private agencies to place children from troubled homes with new families.
The state health department says ensuring LGBTQ families feel welcome and valued as foster and adoptive parents remains a top priority. The department intends to expand its support for LGBTQ families who want to become foster or adoptive parents as part of its ongoing work to find loving homes for every child in foster care.