Discrimination maintains diversity

A license to discriminate bill has passed the Michigan House Committee on Families, Seniors, and Children. Lawmakers and faith-based adoption agencies are freaked out about the possibility of same-sex marriage becoming legal in Michigan with same-sex couples having a right to adopt. The vote to pass the bill out of committee was along party lines. GOP lawmakers are spouting such nonsense as wanting to make sure agencies that take state money aren't forced to choose between their values and their mission to find homes for kids (wait a minute... there's a difference?). Since 45% of the kids are served by agencies that are faith-based, lawmakers don't want to eliminate so many providers. Catholic leaders are touting that this bill would maintain a "diversity" of agencies.

Of course, there was no mention of my viewpoint: sure, you can discriminate all you want – but not if you take my tax dollars.

Jean Howard, retired from the University of Illinois Center for Adoption Studies notes that when discrimination is banned, faith-based agencies adapt and children benefit.

We have empirical evidence to support this widely held view that states that have anti-gay policies end up with fewer children adopted from foster care.

Besides, same-sex couples are more likely to take the hardest-to-adopt special needs kids.