Couple Denied Fostering Kids Over Views on Transgender Care: Lawsuit
documents filed on Tuesday said that Michael and Catherine Burke decided to become foster parents and try to adopt a child after experiencing problems with infertility.
Their foster care application was denied in April after Massachusetts DCF staff were concerned over the couple's responses to questions regarding care for an LGBTQ+ child.
Their application was denied "based on the couple's statements/responses regarding placement of children who identified LGBTQIA." The denial said that the Burke family, who are practicing Catholics, would not be "affirming" to a child who identified as LGBTQ+.The LGBTQ+ community has become a culture war battleground in the United States with a record number of anti-LGBTQ+ bills introduced in state legislatures this year.
Civil suits also have abounded over the issue, such as when a transgender former student sued a Missouri school district in August for forcing her to use the boys' bathrooms or the single-stall gender-neutral bathroom.Court documents argued that the Burkes would "never reject" a child, but they had strong religious beliefs about gender-affirming care."As faithful Catholics, the Burkes believe that all children should be loved and supported, and they would never reject a child placed in their home," the document said.
