SB 375 is a religious exemptions bill that would allow for taxpayer-funded agencies to deny perspective LGBTQ parents and refuse service to LGBTQ youth

NEW YORK – GLAAD, the world’s largest LGBTQ media advocacy organization, today released the following statement after the Georgia State Senate passed Senate Bill 375, a religious exemption bill that would allow taxpayer-funded agencies to deny adoption requests from LGBTQ couples and refuse service to LGBTQ youth.

“Senate Bill 375 is a dangerous step backward that would codify permission to discriminate against the LGBTQ community into Georgia state law,” said Sarah Kate Ellis, President and CEO of GLAAD. “This bill is not about freedom of religion, which is one of our nation’s fundamental values, but rather about imposing one’s personal religious beliefs on others to discriminate against loving foster or adoptive parents simply because of their identity and deny services to LGBTQ youth.”

Georgia is one of 10 states with no child welfare non-discrimination protections for sexual orientation or gender identity. Legal protections for LGBTQ youth are essential, but SB 375 only target this already vulnerable community with more discrimination.

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