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Rule changes for foster homes that work with the state have members of the lesbian, gay and transgender community crying foul. Matt Galka explains.

Advocates of the Lesbian, Gay, and Transgender community made their presence known at a rule making meeting for the state’s Department of Children and Families.

LGBTQ advocates who showed up were angry with DCF for a proposed rule change for foster homes throughout the state.

“LGBTQ youth have unique needs that they’re a vulnerable population, that the DCF has a responsibility as an agency to basically make sure that the providers that are taking care of LGBTQ youth are given the right guidance,” said Carlos Smith with Equality Florida

DCF included specific protections for LGBTQ foster children in a draft rule – including one that specifically banned controversial conversion therapy – but the latest draft took those protections out.

DCF says even though the proposed protections are scratched out, they won’t tolerate discrimination, but advocates say the answer isn’t good enough.

“We don’t need to segment a particular population of kids within the rule, but we need to make sure the rule has protections to cover all children that we’re serving,” said Tory Wilson with DCF.

Rachel Greene works with Capital City Youth Services – a crisis center for endangered children.  She says the protections are needed to make sure one of the most at-risk foster kid populations isn’t ignored.

“We have youth who run away from our program because of fear of going into a program that’s not affirming,” she said.

Dozens of other advocates chimed in on the phone.  No one at the public meeting spoke in favor of having the protections removed.

Statement from DCF Secretary Mike Carroll:

The business of child welfare should not be politicized. We share a sacred mission to serve Florida’s most vulnerable children. We must work collaboratively with a wide coalition of partners and keep the children at the center of our mission.

The health, safety, and permanency of all children in the child welfare system is our top priority. DCF absolutely does not and will not tolerate any discrimination against any vulnerable child for any reason. DCF absolutely does not and will not tolerate any bullying of any vulnerable child for any reason.

Every vulnerable child is entitled to our protection. The modified language in the rule, which was publically developed and scrutinized, expands protections to encompass every child we serve regardless of inherent traits, personal characteristics, or past experiences. And the rulemaking process is a time to receive input from any interested parties before a final rule is published.