Bill allowing adoption agencies to deny services to gay couples passes Tennessee House

A bill that would allow adoption agencies to discriminate against same-sex couples based on religious objections has passed in the Tennessee House of Representatives.

The Tennessee Equality Project is fighting against the legislation, sponsored by Rep. Tim Rudd.

Rudd’s bill says no licensed adoption agency would be required to participate in a child placement if doing so would “violate the agency’s written religious or moral convictions or policies.”

Similar legislation has passed several other sates, including last year in both Kansas and Oklahoma. As part of terms of a legal settlement with the American Civil Liberties Union, the state of Michigan last month announced it would cease to fund adoption agencies denying services to same-sex couples on religious grounds.

via Tennessean