Senate Bill 1140 would permit child welfare organizations, agencies and employees contracting with the state of Oklahoma to discriminate against LGBTQ families, single mothers, atheists and others when making foster care and adoption decisions.

This bill would permit the religious ideologies of child welfare agencies to take priority over an obligation to care for the state's most in-need children. While SB 1140 states that child-placing agencies may not “refuse to perform any act otherwise required by state or federal law,” it serves no purpose other than allowing discrimination based on “the agency’s written religious or moral convictions or policies,” plainly targeting LGBTQ families and individuals in particular.

Not only is this bill unconstitutional, it is deeply unethical. Passing SB 1140 would be a moral failure on the part of the Oklahoma House.