A Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) settlement with foster parents Shane and Jennifer DeGross has led the state to rewrite its foster‑care licensing regulations. The new rules will include a religious‑exemption clause, allowing foster parents to decline affirming state‑mandated gender‑identity policies when those requirements clash with their Christian convictions.
Background of the dispute
Shane and Jennifer DeGross, a Christian couple who have cared for foster children for more than a decade, discovered in 2022 that Washington had updated its licensing requirements. The revised policy demanded that foster parents affirm and support LGBTQ children, use children’s preferred names and pronouns, and otherwise comply with state‑mandated gender‑identity guidelines.
“While we love caring for any child placed in our home, we could not agree to requirements that contradicted our biblical worldview,” Jennifer DeGross told Fox News Digital. Shane added, “Our allegiance is to God and the truth of Scripture, so we could not accept what the state was requiring us to affirm.”
Legal challenge and settlement
The DeGrosses filed a lawsuit asserting that the licensing mandates violated their First Amendment rights to free speech and free exercise of religion. After a protracted legal battle, Washington agreed to a settlement that partially reinstated the couple’s license and, more importantly, committed to revising the statewide rules.
Senior counsel for Alliance Defending Freedom, Johannes Widmalm‑Delphonse, said the case should serve as a warning to other states: “These foster‑care agencies must respect the First Amendment rights of foster parents, as well as the children in the system.” He noted that Washington’s proposed regulation WSR 26‑20‑103, currently in public comment, would explicitly grant a religious exemption for foster parents who object to gender‑identity or sexuality requirements.
Impact on children and families
The DeGrosses expressed relief that the settlement expands the pool of Christian families able to serve as foster caregivers without fearing exclusion. “It’s a great victory for kids that need a loving home,” Shane said.
DCYF Secretary Tana Senn praised the agreement, stating, “This settlement respects the religious beliefs of foster parents while ensuring LGBTQIA+ youth are placed in environments that are safe and supportive of their well‑being.” The department also highlighted the diversity of its foster‑parent community, noting contributions from families of various cultures, religions, and life experiences.
Broader implications
The settlement arrives amid a national conversation about religious liberty and LGBTQ‑related policies in child‑welfare programs. Advocates for religious freedom argue that the decision reinforces constitutional protections for parents, while critics worry it could limit the state’s ability to ensure affirming environments for LGBTQ youth.
Washington’s proposed rule change is still undergoing a public‑notice and comment period, giving stakeholders an opportunity to weigh the balance between parental religious rights and the state’s interest in supporting LGBTQ children.
What’s next?
Both the DeGross family and the state plan to monitor the implementation of the new exemption provision. Foster‑care agencies across the country are watching the outcome, as the settlement could set a precedent for how states reconcile religious‑freedom claims with gender‑identity policies in child‑welfare settings.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
