Two families who had been punished by leftist officials in the state of Vermont for declining to violate their Christian faith and promote transgender beliefs have had their licenses to care for foster children restored.
And the state has given up on its agenda to demand foster parents promote that alternative lifestyle.
A report from LifeNews explains it’s because of a change in state policy that resulted during a settlement of a lawsuit.
Lawyer Johannes Widmalm-Delphonse, who represented the families, explained, “This is an incredible victory for children in Vermont’s foster-care system. No parent should be forced to lie to a vulnerable child about who they are, much less promote irreversible and life-altering procedures that don’t have any proven health benefits. And, unfortunately, other loving families have been unable to open their homes to children in need just because of their Christian worldview. We commend Vermont for respecting the religious diversity of foster parents and ending its exclusionary policy that deprived children of opportunities to find loving homes.”
The change in state policy came as part of the settlement of a lawsuit filed on behalf of several families.
Officials had attempted to punish families with traditional religious beliefs on sex and gender by revoking their licenses to care for children.
“The settlement in Wuoti v. Winters and a related case finalized today comes after the Department for Children and Families (DCF) revised its guidance. The new policy clarifies that foster families need not endorse or affirm specific identities or use particular language related to gender identity, sexual orientation, or identity expression as a condition of licensure,” according to the LifeNews report.
The state reversed the license revocations against Brian and Katy Wuoti and Bryan and Rebecca Gantt, restoring their permission to act as foster and adoptive parents.
The Wuotis became foster parents in 2014 and had adopted two brothers, while the Gantts began in 2016, specializing in loving and supporting children with drug dependencies or fetal alcohol syndrome, and adopted three children, LifeNews said.
Their licenses were revoked in 2022 and 2024, respectively.
The punishment came after they confirmed they could not promote beliefs in alternative sexual lifestyle choices that violate their Christian faith.
The case was viewed by many as a test of the validity of a litmus test that excluded Christians from helping children.
“There are more kids in the foster-care system than there are families to care for them. Our focus throughout this case has been on the children who need stability and love above everything else. We’re overjoyed that Vermont is doing right by the children in the system,” the Gantts said in a statement.
