Kansas' child welfare agency has drafted guidelines urging foster parents to allow LGBTQ kids in their care to "express themselves as they see themselves."The move has riled conservatives a little more than a year after the state granted legal protections to faith-based adoption agencies that do not place children in LGBTQ homes.The Department for Children and Families issued its draft guidance in mid-July, six months after Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly took office.It called for foster homes to recognize LGBTQ children by their preferred identities.Conservatives saw it as a directive meant to reshape foster families' lives. They also worry it's an attempt to skirt a 2018 law that Kelly doesn't like that protects faith-based adoption agencies refusing to place children in homes violating their religious beliefs.

Kansas' child welfare agency has drafted guidelines urging foster parents to allow LGBTQ kids in their care to "express themselves as they see themselves."

The move has riled conservatives a little more than a year after the state granted legal protections to faith-based adoption agencies that do not place children in LGBTQ homes.


The Department for Children and Families issued its draft guidance in mid-July, six months after Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly took office.

It called for foster homes to recognize LGBTQ children by their preferred identities.

Conservatives saw it as a directive meant to reshape foster families' lives. They also worry it's an attempt to skirt a 2018 law that Kelly doesn't like that protects faith-based adoption agencies refusing to place children in homes violating their religious beliefs.