Representative Angie Craig Statement on Supreme Court Ruling in Fulton v. Philadelphia Case

Statement

WASHINGTON, DC -- Today, U.S. Representative Angie Craig released the following statement on this morning's ruling from the Supreme Court in the Fulton v. Philadelphia case:

"While I'm disappointed by today's Supreme Court decision, which I fear will permit continued discrimination against LGBTQ+ parents in Philadelphia while preventing children in need from being welcomed into caring, loving homes, I am glad that the decision did not include a sweeping ruling permitting discrimination against LGBTQ+ parents and children. No parent should face discrimination when adopting or fostering a child or be denied the opportunity to build a family because of who they love or how they identify.

Today's decision reinforces the urgent need for additional legislation to defend the rights of LGBTQ+ Americans in all facets of daily life. Congress must pass the Equality Act and the John Lewis Every Child Deserves a Family Act, which would increase the number of homes available to all children in foster care and improve services to LGBTQ+ and religious minority youth by prohibiting discrimination in taxpayer-funded child welfare services. Rest assured I will continue working with my colleagues in Congress to ensure that equal rights are protected for all Americans, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity."

Earlier today, the Supreme Court announced a decision in the Fulton v. Philadelphia case regarding whether taxpayer funded foster care agencies can discriminate against LGBTQ people based on religious beliefs. In a 9-0 decision, the Court ruled that governments can enforce nondiscrimination laws as long as they do so neutrally, but that the city of Philadelphia was not neutral in its application of its nondiscrimination laws.

Representative Angie Craig is the first LGBTQ mother in the U.S. House of Representatives and a co-chair of the LGBTQ Equality Caucus. Last year, she led 148 Members of the House and 24 Senators in submitting an amicus brief on Fulton v. Philadelphia. In May, Craig co-led introduction of the John Lewis Every Child Deserves a Family Act which would ban discrimination against LGBTQ adoptive parents and foster youth.

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