Thread by @jewishaction

The SCOTUS ruling in Fulton v. Philadelphia allows a religious child welfare provider to discriminate against LGBTQ+ families.

No. The bottom line must be children’s needs & best interests, not what makes welfare agencies comfortable.

Our full statement:
bendthearc.us/bend_the_arc_r…

By prioritizing this child welfare provider’s religious beliefs & allowing this provider to discriminate, the Court has in effect called into question whether LGBTQ children’s needs will be met by families who are willing, able and qualified to provide that care.

While we are relieved this decision was narrowly focused on the facts of this particular case, we cannot be complacent.

We know too well that those who advocate for "religious liberty" to be a blanket license to discriminate will not stop here.

We also know all too well that any individual who interacts with taxpayer-funded social services, including food banks and homeless shelters, already faces too many barriers to receiving the care they deserve.

Religious freedom in this society is crucial, but we cannot allow this freedom to be corrupted into yet another barrier placed in front of LGBTQ children, religious minorities, people of color, and so many others.

As Jews, we often pray for a "sukkot shalom" – a shelter of peace – to be spread over all the world so that no one has to live in fear.

The 400,000+ children & teens in foster care deserve loving & caring homes, but the SCOTUS decision in this case makes it harder for them.

It is critical that Congress acts to prevent further harm.

We call on the Senate to swiftly send the Equality Act to the President’s desk and for both chambers to pass the Do No Harm Act and Every Child Deserves a Family Act as soon as possible.