(Des Moines, IA) – The state could not take a person out of consideration for becoming a foster or adoptive parent based on their “sincerely held moral and religious beliefs” on gender identity and sexual orientation under a bill passed by a House subcommittee Wednesday. According to the Iowa Capital Dispatch, while supporters of Senate File 473 said the measure would increase Iowa’s pool of prospective parents, others said the measure could put LGBTQ+ youth and families at risk for discrimination. The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services could not require a prospective foster or adoptive parent to accept policies that conflict with their moral and religious beliefs related to LGBTQ+ people in order to be eligible for licensing or to be an individual child’s caretaker.

The bill also states a person cannot be precluded as a choice for becoming a child’s foster or adoptive parent based on their beliefs including factors like “the person’s intent to guide, instruct, or raise a child in a manner consistent with the person’s sincerely held religious or moral beliefs.” Matthew Tate-Smith, the parent of four adopted children and foster parent of 14 children alongside his partner, said families like his could face discrimination in the foster and adoption placement process for their gender identity or sexual orientation. But he said more importantly, the bill could put children in this system at risk. “What’s especially alarming is that this bill could place LGBTQ foster kids with prospective parents who might want to engage in the debunked practice of so-called ‘conversion therapy,’” Tate-Smith said. “… These kids deserve supportive and affirming homes and families that will welcome them with open arms, instead of attempting to fundamentally change who they are. Simply put, this is not in the best interest of foster children.”

(Photo by Cami Koons/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

“Conversion therapy,” sometimes referred to as “reparative therapy,” are practices that attempt to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity and expression. Medical organizations have overwhelmingly found that these practices are unscientific and are not recommended for children’s behavioral health treatment, and a 2020 study in the American Journal of Public Health found LGBTQ+ youth who were subject to conversion therapy were more likely to attempt suicide. But advocates in favor of the bill said that the measure was needed to ensure that families with religious beliefs that do not affirm LGBTQ+ identities are not excluded from the pool of adoptive and foster parent applicants.

Lance Kinzer with the 1st Amendment Partnership, a religious rights organization, said the measure was needed in light of policies in other states like Oregon where a prospective parent was denied certification after stating her religious beliefs would prevent her from they affirming a child’s gender identity or sexual orientation if they are transgender or attracted to the same gender. Kinzer noted the Iowa legislation would still allow the department to take into account the “sincerely held moral and religious beliefs” related to LGBTQ+ identities of the child and their family of origin when determining the best placement for the child.

The bill moved forward with support from Reps. Steven Holt, R-Denison, and Craig Williams, R-Manning. Holt reiterated the bill would take into consideration the beliefs of the child and family of origin when making a foster or adoptive care placement. Rep. Beth Wessel-Kroeschell, D-Ames, opposed the bill, saying that it was essential for children to be placed with families that will provide support regardless of their identity.

The bill, which passed the Iowa Senate 35-14, moves to the House Judiciary Committee for further consideration.