Tennessee governor says he will sign anti-LGBT adoption bill

Source: Associated Press


Kimberlee Kruesi and Jonathan Mattise, Associated Press
Updated 5:33 pm CST, Tuesday, January 14, 2020



Photo: Mark Humphrey, AP
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Sen. Jeff Yarbro, D-Nashville, debates a proposal allowing faith-based adoption agencies to decline to place children with same-sex couples because of their religious belief without facing penalties on the first day of the 2020 legislative session Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2020, in Nashville, Tenn.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee announced Tuesday that he'll sign into law a measure that would assure continued taxpayer funding of faith-based foster care and adoption agencies even if they exclude LGBT families and others based on religious beliefs.

The GOP-controlled Senate gave the bill final passage on the first day of the 2020 legislative session after it was initially approved by the House last April. The bill was sent to the Republican governor amid warnings by critics of possible negative consequences for Tennessee's reputation.

Lee's communication director, Chris Walker, confirmed in a statement Tuesday evening that the governor would sign the bill. Earlier, before the Senate vote, Lee declined to weigh in after saying he had not read the two-page bill.

“We are off to a fine start this session,” state Sen. Steve Dickerson joked while debating against the bill earlier as the lone Republican opposed.


Read more: https://www.chron.com/news/us/article/Tennessee-lawmakers-kickoff-2020-legislative-14973193.php