Foster Parents Advance Suit Over Washington State Pronoun Policy

A Washington state couple can proceed with claims that a policy requiring foster parents to use a child’s preferred pronouns and name violates their free-speech and religious rights, a federal judge said.

Jennifer and Shane DeGross sufficiently alleged Washington’s “Policy 1520" is viewpoint discriminatory because it requires foster parents to deliver a message that aligns with the state’s views, rather than their own, the US District Court for the Western District of Washington said Wednesday. They can demonstrate a First Amendment violation unless the state can show the provision was narrowly drawn to serve a compelling interest, Judge David G. ...