Fulton v. Philadelphia virtual town hall

Date: Wednesday, November 4, 2020

On November 4, 2020, the U. S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in Fulton v. Philadelphia. Fulton, on its surface, is about whether a private foster care agency that receives public funds can use their religious beliefs to justify not serving LGBTQ+ people. Their refusal has already had a devastating impact on foster kids who are being denied a loving home. But if the court rules in favor of a right to discriminate, it could allow any private agency that receives taxpayer-funding to provide government services -- such as adoption, food banks, homeless shelters, disaster relief, and more -- to deny services to anyone they disapprove of, including LGBTQ+, Jewish, Muslim, Mormon, single women, those previously divorced and more.

This case is essential to the future of LGBTQ+ families and women who needs access to affirming services from publicly funded agencies.

On November 4 at 8 pm, we are co-sponsoring a Virtual Town Hall to break everything down for you. RSVP here now to join us: www.OurDayInCourt.org

Background:

In March 2018, the City of Philadelphia learned that two of the agencies it hired to provide foster care services to children in the city's care would not, based on their religious objection, accept same-sex couples as foster parents. Philadelphia informed the agencies that it would no longer refer children to them unless they agreed to comply with nondiscrimination requirements that are part of all foster care agency contracts. One of the agencies agreed to do so. The other, Catholic Social Services (CSS), sued the city, claiming the Constitution gives it the right to opt-out of the nondiscrimination requirement. For foster care services alone, this case could have a profound impact on the lives of more than 440,000 children. In the past, some states had laws banning LGBTQ people from becoming foster or adoptive parents. The last of these discriminatory laws were struck down in 2016. Still, those opposed to LGBTQ equality have increasingly sought a far-reaching constitutional license to discriminate in the name of religion.

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