A Massachusetts couple has been stripped of their foster care license after declining to sign a state policy mandating that foster parents affirm the gender identity and sexual orientation of children placed in their care.
Lydia and Heath Marvin, parents to three biological children, had been fostering children since 2020.
Over the past five years, the couple cared for eight foster children, all under the age of four.
Their foster care journey came to an abrupt end in April when the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families revoked their license.
The revocation followed the Marvins’ refusal to sign a required nondiscrimination agreement.
“We will absolutely love and support and care for any child in our home, but we simply can’t agree to go against our Christian faith in this area,” Lydia told CBS Boston.
The policy at the center of the dispute requires foster parents, staff and volunteers to respect how individuals identify.
Under the rules, caregivers must use the names and pronouns that children request.
The department’s policy also explicitly prohibits any attempt to persuade or pressure children to change their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Such actions are considered violations of the nondiscrimination agreement.
Additionally, the policy states that youth must be allowed to use restrooms, clothing and hairstyles consistent with their gender identity.
Foster parents who do not comply with these requirements risk losing their licensure.
The Massachusetts Department of Children and Families defends the rules as necessary protections for the well-being of foster youth, The Post Millennial (TPM) highlighted.
The department points to research showing that a significant percentage of children in foster care identify as LGBTQ+.
The outlet further noted that a 2019 study from Children’s Rights found that over 30 percent of youth in foster care identify as LGBTQ+.
By comparison, roughly 11 percent of youth outside the foster care system identify as LGBTQ+.
The disparity in these numbers has prompted state agencies to implement policies specifically designed to address the needs of LGBTQ+ youth in the foster care system.
Massachusetts is among the states that have adopted comprehensive nondiscrimination policies for foster care providers.
The state policy goes beyond pronoun usage and restroom access.
It also supports access to what the department calls “culturally responsive and affirming” healthcare and mental health services for foster youth.
These services include support for legal name and gender changes if sought by the child. However, the policy states that none of these measures are required for a youth’s identity to be respected.
The American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Psychiatric Association have claimed that so-called gender-affirming care is evidence-based and medically necessary for both minors and adults.
These organizational positions have influenced policy decisions at both state and federal levels. However, the claims remain contested by other medical professionals and researchers who question the evidence base for such interventions in minors.
The Marvins are not accepting the revocation quietly.
The couple says they are exploring legal options following the loss of their foster license.
Their case is not occurring in isolation.
Another group of prospective foster parents is challenging the same DCF policy in court, per TPM.
These plaintiffs are also represented by Alliance Defending Freedom.
Alliance Defending Freedom describes itself as a Christian legal advocacy group.
The organization has a long record of litigating on behalf of clients who argue that state nondiscrimination rules violate their religious freedom.
