MONTPELIER, Vt. (WCAX) – Two Vermont foster families allege the state of Vermont is discriminating against their religion. In a new lawsuit, they say the state was wrong in pulling their foster license
Brian and Kaitlyn Wuoti, and Michael and Rebecca Gantt are two couples from Windham County that foster children and were recently up for re-licensing. However, according to a lawsuit filed this week, the couples claim the Department for Children and Families declined to renew the licenses because of their religious beliefs.
“They told the state they would love and care for any child no matter how they identified. They just can’t do anything that goes against their religious beliefs. And because of that, the state revoked their license,” said Johannes Widmalm-Delphonse with the Alliance Defending Freedom, a national conservative group that brought the legal action. He says the state’s anti-discrimination policy violates the couples’ First Amendment rights. “From our perspective, it’s about an ideological campaign to purge the pool of foster parents from anyone who has beliefs that disagree with the state.”
State foster care licensing regulations state families can not discriminate based on age, sex, gender, or sexual identity. While DCF officials say they can’t comment on the lawsuit, they said in a statement that it is their responsibility “to ensure all children and youth will reside in a home with caregivers who are committed to fully embracing and holistically affirming and supporting them.”
“It’s the role of families to provide that kind of affirmation and validation,” said Amanda Rohdenburg with Outright Vermont. She says it’s impossible to tell who is LGBTQ just by looking at them. “They are at high risk of experiencing rejection or internalizing homophobia or transphobia that impacts their sense of sense over their lifetime.”
Foster parents have to go through an extensive background and vetting process and a multi-week course in person or online to prepare them for the complexities of caring for kids in need.
There are currently about 958 children in foster homes in Vermont.