Georgia At The Center Of Clash Between Religious And Gay And Transgender Groups Over Adoption

Gay and transgender groups are on a collision course with religious adoption groups in Georgia as legislators advance a bill designed to protect religious freedom for adoption agencies.

The bill, which was read on Tuesday and is expected to work its way through the Senate in the coming weeks, ensures that adoption agencies would not be forced to place children anywhere that “violates certain religious or moral convictions.” It has raised an outcry from gay and transgender advocates.

Democratic state Rep. Matthew Wilson, a gay member of the legislature, criticized the bill upon its introduction in February as “hateful discrimination, pure and simple.”

The bill’s sponsor, Republican state Sen. Marty Harbin, countered by saying that his bill was only intended to protect the freedom of choice for mothers about how their children will be raised. . .

Advocacy groups have clashed over the bill as well. The gay and transgender rights group Georgia Equality criticizes the protections as “unconscionable,” according to a spokesman. On the other hand, religious groups have praised the effort for seeking to ensure “the welfare of children.” (Read more from “Georgia At The Center Of Clash Between Religious And Gay And Transgender Groups Over Adoption” HERE)

Follow Joe Miller on Twitter HERE and Facebook HERE