Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, declaring that he’s taking a stand for religious liberty, has signed a bill allowing faith-based adoption agencies that are under state license and receive state funding to deny adoptions to gay and lesbian couples. The agencies may deny adoptions purely on the basis of whether adoption-applicant’s beliefs coincide with the religious beliefs of the agency.
“The governor believes that protection of rights is important, especially religious liberty,” says Gillum Ferguson, the governor’s spokesman. “This bill is centered around protecting the religious liberty of Tennesseans and that’s why he signed it.”
The twist in logic is frightening, because religious liberty is exactly what this law restrains.
