FFRF filed this 9th Circuit Court of Appeals amicus brief on February 15, 2024, with Americans United signing on. The brief was in support of the state of Oregon’s efforts to deny a religious exemption to a potential foster parent. The plaintiff claimed that Oregon violated her free exercise and speech rights when it denied her application to become a foster parent due to her refusal to comply with a neutral state regulation requiring foster parents to “accept and support” LGBTQIA+ children.
FFRF’s amicus brief argued that giving foster parents a religious exemption from accepting LGBTQIA+ children would undermine Oregon’s efforts to protect foster children from abuse and neglect.
This brief was drafted by Legal Fellow Kat Grant, assisted by FFRF Associate Counsel Sam Grover. Americans United for the Separation of Church and State signed onto this brief.
