Vermont officials have issued a new policy that protects religious foster parents who object to gender and LGBTQ ideology.
The guidance, issued on Feb. 18, states that a potential foster parent’s “endorsement or affirmation of specific identities,” or “use of particular vocabulary, prescribed language, or preferred pronouns related to gender identity, sexual orientation, or identity expression” are not required for conditioning of licensing. The policy also confirms that applicants’ “sincerely held personal, cultural, religious, moral, or philosophical beliefs” are not to be considered as deciding factors in the licensing process.
The state also agreed to withdraw the revocations placed on the Wuotis and Gantts, two Christian foster families stripped of licensing for expressing their Christian belief that girls and boys cannot switch genders. Vermont officials revoked the Wuotis’ license in 2022 and the Gantt family in 2024 based on a statewide requirement that foster parents affirm a child’s chosen gender identity, regardless of the child’s biological sex.
In 2024, Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) attorneys, representing the families, filed suit against the state, arguing that their First Amendment rights were violated. The case reached the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals after ADF appealed a lower court’s ruling.
ADF Senior Counsel Johannes Widmalm-Delphonse called the state’s decision an “incredible victory” for foster care children in the state’s system.
“No parent should be forced to lie to a vulnerable child about who they are, much less promote irreversible and life-altering procedures that don’t have any proven health benefits,” said Widmalm-Delphonse. “And, unfortunately, other loving families have been unable to open their homes to children in need just because of their Christian worldview. We commend Vermont for respecting the religious diversity of foster parents and ending its exclusionary policy that deprived children of opportunities to find loving homes.”
Brian Wuoti, who is a pastor, and his wife, Katy, became foster parents in 2014 and have adopted two brothers from the foster care system. Bryan Gantt, also a pastor, and his wife, Rebecca, started fostering in 2016. The Gantts specialize in fostering children born with fetal alcohol syndrome and drug dependencies. Since fostering, the Gantts have adopted three children.
The Wuotis and the Gantts expressed their gratitude in an ADF press release.
“We’re thankful that common sense won out and that Vermont has changed its policy to put children’s interests above divisive ideologies,” said the Wuotis. “We’re grateful for one more opportunity to help give children a safe and loving home.”
“There are more kids in the foster-care system than there are families to care for them,” the Gantts said. “Our focus throughout this case has been on the children who need stability and love above everything else. We’re overjoyed that Vermont is doing right by the children in the system.”
