Michigan gay couple discusses the process of adoption

Just this past week the Supreme Court ruled that the city of Philadelphia can't refuse to work with a faith based agency.

COURT RULED THAT A 'CATHOLICFOSTER CARE AGENCY' INPHILADELPHIA... CAN TURN AWAYGAY AND LESBIAN COUPLES.IT'S A BATTLE BETWEENPROTECTION OF RELIGIOUS EXERCISEAND LGBTQ RIGHTS.

TONIGHT, ASWE ARE IN THE MIDDLEOF PRIDE MONTH..WE SPEAK WITH AMICHIGAN COUPLE THAT WENTTHROUGH SIMILAR HURDLES TO ADDTO THEIR FAMILY...SOON AFTER HIS MARRIAGE 5 YEARSAGO..ANTHONY SOTO AND HISHUSBAND REALIZED THEY WERE READYFOR THE NEXT STEP IN BUILDINGTHEIRFAMILY.So we were open to indog fosterto adoptANTHONY WAS LIVING IN TEXAS,WHICH LIKE MICHIGAN AT THETIME.AND SO MANY OTHER STATES.IS IN A BATTLE AS TOWHETHER A STATE CAN CUT OFF ITSRELATIONSHIP WITH A FOSTER ORADOPTION AGENCY OVER ONE ISSUE.That means if you are going toprovide tsheeservices for the state, youcan't discriminateon any oft he protected classeswhich includessexual orientation and genderidentity.JAMESMCGRATH IS THE PRESIDENT, DEANAND PROFESSOR AT WMU-COOLEY LAWSCHOOL..AND UNDERSTANDS THECHALLENGES ANTHONY FACED INTEXAS.There wer ea number of differentfostering agencies and some ofthem didn't acceptlesbian and ga ycouplesANTHONYSAYS..LIVING IN A LARGER, MOREPROGRESSIVE CITY LIKE FORT WORTHMADE THEIR SEARCH MUCH EASIER.Luckily we knew people in thearea htat had used the agencyprior so for us that wasa very important piece of theprocess.

ANDQUICKLY HE AND HISHUSBAND..FOUNDA FIT.She was eligible to eb adopted,her biological parents had losttheir rights before she cameto us..

THEY STARTED FOSTERINGIN MARCH 1207...We sort of had that moment whenyou saw her, and we said, okthis is our familyI'd always thought I'd like tobe a parent, butas a gay man, I know I'd have togo throughsome extraordinary measures tokmae thathaeppn.

IN NOVEMBER OF2018..ANTHONY .AND JAMES.OFFICIALLY ADOPTED THEN 6 YEAROLD KINSEY.She just fit right into ourfamily we haveanimlas, cats and dogs and shejustcame in and immediately becamepart of the family.KINSEY.SOON TO BE 9IS EXCITED TO RETURNTO IN PERSON CLASSONCE AGAI TNHIS FALL.AS SHEHEADS INTO THE 3RD GRADE.I like science and I also likeart.THE FAMILY OF THREE..PLUS- AWHOLE LOT OF ANIMALS..LIVES INMICHIGAN'S CAPITAL CITY."Even though we are the only, wedon'tknow any other gay couples withkids inLansing, I think we generallyfeelaccepted."I grew up in an era where it waskind ofdangerous to self- disclose thatyou aregay or lesbian.That's not what's happening hereandnow, it's just we feel more.invisible Ithink.AND AS THEIR OWN FLAGWAVESPROUDLY IN THEIR YARD THISMONTH.THIS .NOW .COMPLETEFAMLY SAYS THE PROGRESS THEY ARESEEING..WHICHMAY BE A BIT SLOW..IS STILL AWELCOMED CHANGE..REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE COURTS MAY SAY."During Pride Month, even inLansing and Detroit, I seestores having the gay flagand publicly supporting the LGBTcommunity,and I think that's somethingthat Icertainly didn't see 25 yearsago.

So I thinkall those things help."A FEDERAL JUDGE IN U.S.DISTRICTCOURT FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICTOF MICHIGAN RECENTLY ENTERED ATEMPORARY ORDER THA ATLLOWSRELIGIOUSADOPTION AGENCIES TO CONTINUETHEIR SELECTIVE PRACTICES, BUTTHAT IS STILLPENDING... AND IT'S EXPECTED THEFINAL RULING WILL INVOLVE ANAPPEAL,REGARDLESS OF THE COURT ORDER...STILL AHEAD AT 10... A2-