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The
bill would allow faith-based adoption agencies, including those
that receive public funds, to turn away would-be parents on the
basis of their marital status or religion and religious beliefs.
The bill's proponents said the legislation would open the door
for more child placement partnerships.
The state House of Representatives approved the bill by a 56-21
vote without discussion or debate, despite vocal objections and
attempted parliamentary maneuvering from the Democratic caucus.
Opponents of the bill could mount a legal challenge. The Supreme
Court in June 2017 reversed an Arkansas Supreme Court ruling and
ordered all states to treat same-sex couples the same as
heterosexual couples in the issuance of birth certificates. This
and other court rulings have made adoption by same-sex couples
legal in all 50 states.
As members of both parties shouted insults at each other during
the abruptly called vote, the presiding officer threatened to
remove one Democratic lawmaker from the floor for refusing to
take his seat.
"The abomination of process & justice in the OK House of Reps
makes me weep for democracy," Oklahoma Representative Cory
Williams tweeted after the vote. "The priorities of bigotry and
hate, under the guise of religious freedom, are truly
heartbreaking."
Earlier in the day, the Senate passed the bill by a 33-7 vote.
The measure now goes to Governor Mary Fallin, who has not
publicly indicated whether she will sign it.
Leaders with Human Rights Watch and Oklahoma's gay community
criticized the bill, calling the measure unnecessary and
divisive.
"What happened on the floor of the Oklahoma House and Senate
today was a disgrace," Freedom Oklahoma Executive Director Troy
Stevenson said. "Leadership of both houses forced an unneeded,
unwanted, and un-American bill onto the Governor's desk. This
measure does nothing but keep Oklahoma's most vulnerable youth
out of loving and committed homes."
But Republican State Senator Greg Treat, who introduced the
bill, told Oklahoma City TV station KFOR the language of the
bill has been misconstrued.
"It doesn’t do anything ... to prohibit same-sex couples from
adopting," Treat said. "All it does is protect faith-based
institutions who wish to participate, and some are sitting on
the sideline right now, and I hope to get them involved to help
us take care of the huge need."
(Reporting by Lenzy Krehbiel-Burton; editing by Bill Tarrant and
Grant McCool)
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