Meeting Public Comments

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SF 212

A bill for an act prohibiting discrimination against adoption and foster care providers, or adoptive and foster parents, based on religious belief.

Agenda

Subcommittee members: Taylor, J.-CH, De Witt, Quirmbach

Date: Thursday, February 23, 2023

Time: 10:00 AM - 10:30 AM

Location: Room 217 Conference Room

Comments Submitted:

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The purpose of comments is to provide information to members of the subcommittee.

Names and comments are public records. Remaining information is considered a confidential record.

02-22-2023

Elizabeth Lundberg []

I am opposed to this bill and I urge you to reject it. As with many other GOP bills, it is written to make it look like the opposite of what it is, because the truth would be unpopular. So although it says it prohibits discrimination, really it prohibits any consequences for adoption agencies THAT DISCRIMINATE. An organizations religious beliefs should not get to stand in the way of vulnerable children finding loving homes.

02-22-2023

Nathan Morton []

This bill is about allowing religiously affiliated adoption agencies to discriminate. against people who want to adopt or foster. It is not in any childs interest to allow exclusion of potential loving caregivers. Targeting LGBTQ is implied, but it could mean discrimination against potential adoptive parents who are Catholic or Jewish if that agency feels like doing so. Reject this prodiscrimination bill.

02-22-2023

Dessie Sliekers []

I am strongly opposed to this bill and implore you to vote no on it. Allowing an organization to discriminate based on religious beliefs will absolutely open discrimination to the LGBTQ community and keep kids in need of families from loving and capable homes.

02-22-2023

Tiffany DeBow []

There are so many children in need of loving homes & more to come if Reynolds gets her way in court. Why would we stop loving, qualified homes from giving kids what they need simply because of their body parts & outward identity. Vote no on this bill!

02-22-2023

Jill Bjorklund []

Why are we trying to legalize discrimination in 2023 in our state? I will gladly join alongside the multitude of Iowan Christians who profess to care about the unborn and cry out to save our babies from abortion, in asking you to reject this bill. Think of the children! Loving homes desiring to adopt dont have to all look the same, they just have to love and care for children. How can you look at a child and think, sorry these ladies really loved you and wanted to adopt you but their love for each other is wrong so you will go to a foster home. Dont pass this hateful bill and deny babies loving homes.

02-23-2023

Tom Smith []

This bill would allow discrimination against children. Let the providers find other work if the work disagrees with them, and not allow legal discrimination in Iowa against children. Passing a bill like this is regressing, it's not protecting the rights of Iowa children.

02-23-2023

Kerri Schwemm []

Children need a home environment that is loving and shows grace. Children who have a supportive home environment do better in school. Children who do better in school contribute to society. Allowing adoptions agencys to be selective (discriminate) based on beliefs prevents children in need of being placed in loving homes. I cant believe our state leaders debate some of this stuff. Youre arguments do not define leadership.

02-23-2023

Holly Herbert []

No organization should be allowed to discriminate against potential parents for religious reasons. This simply opens the door to continued homophobia, transphobia, and others forms of bigotry. There are so many children who are in need of loving, stable homes. Please don't make it harder for loving potential parents to find adoption agencies to work with.

02-23-2023

Barbara Ferris []

Yet another bill aimed at the LGBTQ community and even the nonChristians. As always the GOP's cruelty is on full display in this bill. The people it will hurt are the children who will miss the chance to belong to a loving family and to learn that people and families don't have to fit into the mold that a group of white Christian nationalists are attempting to make this country.

02-23-2023

Jane Robinette []

Under the guise of prohibiting discrimination based on religion, this bill would allow discrimination against otherwise qualified adoptive and foster parents. That is the last thing children in Iowa need. Please oppose this bill and help children find loving homes based on relevant qualifications.

02-23-2023

Melissa McAllister []

My name is Melissa McAllister. I am a small business owner and resident in Ankeny, Iowa. I volunteer weekly in the schools, working with students directly. I practiced in the juvenile court system in Missouri for over ten years, representing the Juvenile Officer. I oversaw cases where children were removed due to abuse and neglect, so I know this system intimately. I am writing to you to beg you to vote no on SF212. This bill is incredibly dangerous and harmful to children who have already suffered abuse and neglect. This bill would discriminate against LGBTQ persons who qualify and are wanting to foster children. At a time when foster and adoption placements are limited, and children often age out of the system waiting for a placement, it is untenable to restrict placements because of LGBTQ status of prospective foster or adoptive parents. This is discrimination. Moreover, it hurts children who are already hurting. I beg you to vote NO on advancing SF212. Melissa McAllister Ankeny, Iowa

02-23-2023

Mary Kenyon []

I am opposed to this bill. There is a rigorous process in place to evaluate prospective foster and adoptive parents. If a couple completes the process and is approved there should be no further barrier to them welcoming a child in need to their family.

02-23-2023

Katie Liskey []

I urge you to reject this bill. I could not believe samesex marriage was not legalized in this country until 2015, and now I cannot believe it is 2023 and we are still debating whether samesex couple can be allowed to adopt children. Additionally, in abortion debates, women are so often told to give up their babies for adoption to avoid abortion. Yet, when samesex couples who can offer a loving home to that same child look to adopt, they are rejected and the child is left without a home for even longer. This bill is not only blatantly homophobic, but will also result in more harm for children in the foster care system.

02-23-2023

Wendy Snelling []

I am opposed to this bill. This bill is about allowing religiously affiliated adoption agencies to discriminate against people who want to adopt or foster. Isn't that something? Religion, once again wanting to make things harder for anyone that doesn't believe as they believe. Why are we continually wanting to spread hate and fear rather than love, compassion and understanding? This bill is evil. This is not who Iowans are. All kids deserve to live their best lives. Please do NOT pass this bill. Thank you for your time.

02-23-2023

Denise Perez []

I am strongly opposed to this bill. Religious groups are allowed to discriminate against LGBTQ families. Kids need loving and caring homes, and allowing discrimination based on religion only makes finding those homes harder.

02-23-2023

Berleen Wobeter []

Toledo, Iowa was home to the state juvenile home which cared for children who had no other place to go. It is hard to image what these children experienced to get them to the place they were in. Then they aged out and disappeared and then the juvenile home disappeared and with it the children. We need to stop taking away the support system for our children in whatever loving form it takes. Who do you think abused those children in the first place. Probably the very people who would not be discriminated against in this bill.