TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) – Oklahoma legislators approved a measure Thursday to grant legal protections to faith-based adoption agencies that cite their religious beliefs for not placing children in LGBT homes and Republicans in Kansas were pushing a similar measure.
The Oklahoma House’s 56-21 vote sent its measure to Republican Gov. Mary Fallin, who has not said whether she would sign it. It’s similar to laws in at least five other states.
In Kansas, negotiators for the state House and Senate drafted a new version of a bill that would prevent the state from barring agencies from providing foster care or adoption services if they refuse to place children in homes violating their “sincerely held” religious beliefs. The Senate passed an earlier version in March, only to see it stall in the House.
Supporters of such measures argue that the core issue is protecting a group’s right to live out its religious faith, while critics see them as attacks on LGBT rights.
In Kansas, supporters hoped both legislative chambers could vote on the new version of the bill Thursday, with the House going first. GOP Gov. Jeff Colyer’s supports it, with his administration arguing that it would encourage faith-based groups to place more abused and neglected children in state custody.