Outright Vermont Responds to the Department of Children and Families’ Settlement of Cases with Anti-LGBTQ+ Organizations

Today, the Vermont Department for Children and Families, Family Services Division, settled a federal lawsuit concerning foster care licensing requirements and care for LGBTQ+ youth.

The lawsuits, Wuoti v. Winters and Antonucci v. Winters, were brought by Alliance Defending Freedom and Center for American Liberty, both anti-LGBTQ+ organizations. The litigation sought to exempt foster parents from the state’s licensing requirement to support and affirm LGBTQ+ foster children in their care based on the foster parents’ religious beliefs.

We want to be clear: The focus must remain on the safety, affirmation, and the unwavering commitment of support and belonging that all young people deserve.

"It’s important to remember that many LGBTQ+ youth in foster care have experienced rejection from their families, trauma, or instability because of their identities. Placing youth with foster families who respect their identity isn’t a political preference, it’s part of supporting their emotional and psychological health. Affirming someone’s identity and treating them with dignity is a core aspect of belonging, especially for kids who have already faced trauma and rejection. Centering the safety and healthy development of young people, despite the attempts by adults who prioritize their own needs and who aim to erase queer and trans youth from existence, remains paramount,” said Dana Kaplan, Executive Director of Outright Vermont.