Jessica Bates, a widowed mother of five, sued Oregon’s Department of Human Services in 2023 after the agency denied her application to foster or adopt additional children because she refused to affirm the sexual orientation or gender identity of any child placed in her care, as reported by Alex Bollinger for LGBTQ Nation. The Christian conservative activist, represented by the Alliance Defending Freedom, argued that the requirement violated her religious beliefs.
In her application, Bates wrote that she could not support “this behavior” in a child, referring to LGBTQ+ identity, and said she would refuse to use a transgender child’s chosen name and pronouns, instead directing them to wear clothes aligned with their sex assigned at birth. Her lawsuit claimed that state policy asking her to accept the possibility of an LGBTQ+ child was forcing her to act “against her Christian faith.”
After Bates won an injunction in federal court in 2025 and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals applied “strict scrutiny” to her religious freedom claims—a legal standard that favors religious exemptions—she settled her case with the state this month. The settlement removes the affirmation requirement from her application process, though it does not grant her a foster or adoption license or place a child in her care.
The Oregon Department of Human Services said it will continue to prioritize child-specific safety needs and placement decisions based on each child’s sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. The agency stated it has updated its rules and policies to comply with the settlement while maintaining protections for LGBTQ+ youth in foster care.
Read the full reporting and context at https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2026/09/god-was-speaking-to-her-christian-wins-right-to-adopt-kids-reject-their-lgbtq-identity/
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