Michigan's state senate today passed three bills that would allow adoption agencies in the Great Lakes state to refuse adoptions if the religious beliefs of those seeking to adopt or become foster parents were not in line with the agency's. The bills moved forward along party lines. They have already cleared the state's house of representatives, and now require Governor Rick Snyder's signature or veto. However, as Pride Source reports, it is not immediately clear what decision Snyder will take:
“Gov. Snyder will be taking a close look at the bills once they are approved in both chambers and are formally presented,” Snyder spokesman Dave Murray tells Between The Lines by email. Murray declined to answer questions as to whether Snyder believed the legislation was in the best interest of Michigan children or if he supported the legislation.
HRC warned that this latest crop of anti-gay bills would land Michigan in the same quagmire that Indiana found itself in when it passed its anti-gay ‘right to discriminate' legislation earlier this year:
“Governor Snyder has the opportunity not to repeat the mistakes of Indiana Governor Pence,” said HRC National Field Director Marty Rouse. “Fair-minded Michiganders, corporations, business leaders, and major child advocacy organizations are united in saying this kind of extreme legislation is flat out wrong and sends the wrong message about the future of Michigan. Governor Snyder absolutely must veto this virulently anti-LGBT legislation.”
