MONTGOMERY, Ala. — An Alabama lawmaker wants to make sure that faith-based adoption agencies can refuse to place children with same-sex couples.

Republican Sen. Gerald Allen of Tuscaloosa introduced the bill last week specifying groups that could refuse to participate in adoptions and foster care placements that violate their religious beliefs.

The bill would also prohibit the state from refusing to license, or renew a contract with, the groups for refusing services to people on religious grounds.

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Eric Johnston, an attorney who worked on the bill, says the legislation protects the religious freedom of the groups which have a church affiliation.

The director of the Human Rights Campaign says the bill opens the door to discrimination against a diverse array of families who are seeking to adopt needy children.

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