Wyden Cheers Biden Administration Action to Protect LGBTQ+ Youth from Discrimination

Washington, D.C. – Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today issued a statement after the Biden administration announced new steps to allow states to protect LGBTQ+ youth in the child welfare system from discrimination and abuse.

“No child should be afraid to be who they are in their own home,” Wyden said. “I commend the Biden administration for making clear that LGBTQ+ youth are protected from discrimination under federal law, and giving states a roadmap to support LGBTQ+ youth in the child welfare system. I am eager to keep working so foster youth and their parents have every possible support they need to thrive.”

Last year, Wyden introduced the John Lewis Every Child Deserves a Family Act that would bar harmful practices like conversion therapy for children participating in child welfare programs receiving federal funding, improve services to LGBTQ+ and religious minority youth, and establish a National Resource Center for LGBTQ+ youth in foster care within the Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families. The bill would also prohibit discrimination against prospective foster or adoptive parents, and children and youth in the foster care system on the basis of religion, marital status, gender identity, or sexual orientation.

The new anti-discrimination guidance can be found here. The new child welfare guidance can be found here.

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