ATLANTA – Leading advocates in the child welfare and LGBT communities will join people of faith tomorrow in speaking out against a discriminatory amendment to HB 159, imperiling the future of the urgently needed legislation to update the state’s adoption laws. The amendment would allow adoption agencies that receive state funding to reject same-sex couples, LGBT people and others – despite the urgent need to place so many children in Georgia in safe and loving homes.
The amendment was added in the Senate Judiciary Committee over the objection of the bill’s sponsor, GOP Rep. Bert Reeves, and child welfare advocates — including the head of the state’s Division of Family and Children Services. Governor Nathan Deal also has called for the discriminatory amendment to be removed from the bill.
WHO: Jeff Graham, Executive Director, Georgia Equality
Representative Stacey Evans
Representative Mary Margaret Oliver
Paula Moody, Director of Child & Youth Permanency, Families First
Kathy Colbenson, President and CEO, Chris 180
WHERE: State Capitol, Senate Press Room, CLOB 203
Atlanta, GA
WHEN: Tuesday, March 21st 1:30pm
For more information, please contact Billy Linville: blinville@lexiconstrategies.