LGBTQIA+ Dems Statement on Supreme Court Decision

The Supreme Court on Thursday delivered a unanimous defeat to LGBTQ couples in a high-profile case over whether Philadelphia could refuse to contract with a Roman Catholic adoption agency that says its religious beliefs prevent it from working with same-sex foster parents.

“It is disappointing to see this so close to home especially during Pride Month, a time that is meant to be about celebration of our identity and our re-commitment to the cause of building equity for our community. These are huge setbacks for foster care youth and the foster parents who work so hard to support them,” said Lauren Albrecht, Chair of New Jersey Democratic LGBTQ Caucus.

“This is a reminder that elections have real consequences, and we must stop efforts to roll back legal protections for LGBTQ foster parents. We must urge Congress to pass the Equality Act and the Biden Administration to appoint pro-equality federal judges,” said Albrecht.

“Every child deserves to grow up in a warm and loving home. I’m disappointed that the result of today’s decision is one that helps uphold systemic homophobia and harms children,” stated Maplewood Township Deputy Mayor Dean Dafis.

We must not forget that there is still so much work to be done as many LGBTQ people in New Jersey face harassment and vulnerability in their daily lives, outside of work. And LGBTQ people of color — particularly black transgender women, and our LGBTQ youth — face higher rates of discrimination and, too often, violence, self-harm, barriers to medical care, addiction and sexual trafficking. Circumstances like today’s SCOTUS decision perpetuate the narrative that somehow LGBTQ families are different or wrong and not worthy of being considered the same as any other family, continuing the dangerous cycle of inequity.

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