Thank you for this article, Qasim. It left out what I believe is an important fact of this case, however: They were denied the ability to get adoption training, which they are required by law to complete in order to adopt a child through the state's foster care system, from the *only* agency in their area.
But wait, there's more! The state also denied them a home-study certification when they attempted to adopt a child from Florida.
And to be clear, they're not even trying to get a baby, they're trying to adopt a teenager who has been living with them as a foster child since the state eventually allowed them their home-study certificate in 2021 ― five years ago.
Also appalling is that a lower court ruled in favor of the state based on a 2020 law that protects private adoption agencies, allowing them to reject state-funded placement of children to parents based on religious beliefs. The Court of Appeals reversed the lower court and allowed six other plaintiffs to join in their lawsuit.
From what I recall Grant cancelled his order, Lincoln didn't support it. It's still reprehensible that he did it. But it wasn't put into effect.
This law has been on the books in Tennessee and is being used to just discriminate. This is so wrong. It's good that you're making us aware of this.
Apart from the immorality of the law think about how it impacts this couple. Being told they don't belong. It's one thing if your neighbors don't like you. It's a completely different thing when your government doesn't like you just because of who you are not for anything you have done.
Some of these folks think we shouldn't exist in the country
I'm not into religions; I'm a science person; I'm a moral person. Having said that, I've long wondered, if I would be as moral as I am, had I not been raised by good, christian parents (I could have been born into a Muslim, Jewish family, and received the same moral lessons). I have wondered and pondered, because I do not believe in a theist god who has a plan and tells me what to do. Men have made religion in "their" image, and they have made it so that they have huge power here on earth. Of course, I do not want to live under a government that would force me to behave in a certain way ... I believe in free will, obeying the law, having my civil rights, as my amended American Constitution, states. When I can't solve a problem, ... I give it over to the wisdom of the universe.
Tennessee is, I would assume, mostly christian, ... and in the way men think there (I'm making assumptions, based on movies, that they would be racist, sexist, .... and showing my prejudice! sorry) would they only want a law so that christians could adopt -- very racist policy, anti-Jew; they wouldn't want a "Tennessee christian baby," put into Jewish hands? I'm rather saturated with the Holocaust, WWII, right now, as I've been watching documentaries, .... have witnessed so much hate and prejudice, and "rule-the-world" ideas about Jewish people, that hard to think.
Bottom line: such laws, determinations, are wrong and hateful .... no matter the motivation behind it. I didn't know about Grant's order, and Lincoln's counter-order. I hope the Rutan-Rams win their case over this stupid TN law -- there are far too many children without loving parents. Thanks, Qasim, for this informative article.
I worked for an adoption attorney in LA who often referred to the "baby states". Tennessee is one of them; the rest are all in the deep South. Women made a lot of money making babies and then putting them up for adoption; blonde, blue-eyed babies are the most expensive to adopt. There were literally childless couples outbidding each other.
Clients (a young couple) of his wanted to 'return' their baby to the mother because it had brown eyes, not blue like hers.
The entire system is corrupt - discrimination based on religion is just the tip of the iceberg.
Tennessee has never been a harbinger of freedoms for all. As a state, their history if full of decisions motivated by fear, racism, you name it. However, I thought lessons had been learned from past incidents. Apparently not. I have relatives in the state and have spent time there for years. Even with their history, I’m appalled this could happen in 2026. Then again, this is right on par for Trump’s America. Bringing out the worst in people and celebrating it.
And yet, the same crowds accusing antisemitism about criticism of Israel are not claiming anything here. This is antisemitism. Protesting against aggressive military actions by a government of hardliners is not antisemitism.
No. The problem is the lack of freedom of conscience. Whether you're forcing religion or forcing bans of religion, the problem is force. Let people live their lives under secular government.
No religion means no need to force either. More humans have died needlessly throughout history either for their God belief or against someone else's. Perhaps the real problem is human gullibility.
WT Actual F???!!! I’m shocked and outraged about this because I didn’t think that white nationalists would actually have this law in place for Jewish people in 2026. This couple must prevail. Hate and Depravity in TN and elsewhere.
Thank you for this article, Qasim. It left out what I believe is an important fact of this case, however: They were denied the ability to get adoption training, which they are required by law to complete in order to adopt a child through the state's foster care system, from the *only* agency in their area.
But wait, there's more! The state also denied them a home-study certification when they attempted to adopt a child from Florida.
And to be clear, they're not even trying to get a baby, they're trying to adopt a teenager who has been living with them as a foster child since the state eventually allowed them their home-study certificate in 2021 ― five years ago.
Also appalling is that a lower court ruled in favor of the state based on a 2020 law that protects private adoption agencies, allowing them to reject state-funded placement of children to parents based on religious beliefs. The Court of Appeals reversed the lower court and allowed six other plaintiffs to join in their lawsuit.
From what I recall Grant cancelled his order, Lincoln didn't support it. It's still reprehensible that he did it. But it wasn't put into effect.
This law has been on the books in Tennessee and is being used to just discriminate. This is so wrong. It's good that you're making us aware of this.
Apart from the immorality of the law think about how it impacts this couple. Being told they don't belong. It's one thing if your neighbors don't like you. It's a completely different thing when your government doesn't like you just because of who you are not for anything you have done.
Some of these folks think we shouldn't exist in the country
Qasim—This is an excellent article. Thank-you. I read you regularly because I can count on you to bring receipts & speak clearly w/o prejudice.
I'm not into religions; I'm a science person; I'm a moral person. Having said that, I've long wondered, if I would be as moral as I am, had I not been raised by good, christian parents (I could have been born into a Muslim, Jewish family, and received the same moral lessons). I have wondered and pondered, because I do not believe in a theist god who has a plan and tells me what to do. Men have made religion in "their" image, and they have made it so that they have huge power here on earth. Of course, I do not want to live under a government that would force me to behave in a certain way ... I believe in free will, obeying the law, having my civil rights, as my amended American Constitution, states. When I can't solve a problem, ... I give it over to the wisdom of the universe.
Tennessee is, I would assume, mostly christian, ... and in the way men think there (I'm making assumptions, based on movies, that they would be racist, sexist, .... and showing my prejudice! sorry) would they only want a law so that christians could adopt -- very racist policy, anti-Jew; they wouldn't want a "Tennessee christian baby," put into Jewish hands? I'm rather saturated with the Holocaust, WWII, right now, as I've been watching documentaries, .... have witnessed so much hate and prejudice, and "rule-the-world" ideas about Jewish people, that hard to think.
Bottom line: such laws, determinations, are wrong and hateful .... no matter the motivation behind it. I didn't know about Grant's order, and Lincoln's counter-order. I hope the Rutan-Rams win their case over this stupid TN law -- there are far too many children without loving parents. Thanks, Qasim, for this informative article.
I worked for an adoption attorney in LA who often referred to the "baby states". Tennessee is one of them; the rest are all in the deep South. Women made a lot of money making babies and then putting them up for adoption; blonde, blue-eyed babies are the most expensive to adopt. There were literally childless couples outbidding each other.
Clients (a young couple) of his wanted to 'return' their baby to the mother because it had brown eyes, not blue like hers.
The entire system is corrupt - discrimination based on religion is just the tip of the iceberg.
Wow, that's important to know. Thank you for sharing.
Wow... Tennessee is really a hot a** mess. Thank you Qasim for another thought-provoking post.
This is incredibly heartbreaking. And there are so many children waiting to be adopted. Thank you for reporting and exposing this travesty.
Grant also later apologized for his actions. Without a doubt, discrimination is wrong in all it's forms.
Yes, he did. And I suspect that was due to President Lincoln lead by example (in this case) that such discrimination was indefensible.
Tennessee has never been a harbinger of freedoms for all. As a state, their history if full of decisions motivated by fear, racism, you name it. However, I thought lessons had been learned from past incidents. Apparently not. I have relatives in the state and have spent time there for years. Even with their history, I’m appalled this could happen in 2026. Then again, this is right on par for Trump’s America. Bringing out the worst in people and celebrating it.
I had no idea that such backwards ideas would be applied this appalling way.
I maybe agnostic but this is just wrong.
You can't be treating couples like this just because of their religion, including Judaism!
I'm an agnostic as well, and I totally agree!
And yet, the same crowds accusing antisemitism about criticism of Israel are not claiming anything here. This is antisemitism. Protesting against aggressive military actions by a government of hardliners is not antisemitism.
Do people not see the obvious? The common threads of most of humanity's problems? Religion.
No. The problem is the lack of freedom of conscience. Whether you're forcing religion or forcing bans of religion, the problem is force. Let people live their lives under secular government.
No religion means no need to force either. More humans have died needlessly throughout history either for their God belief or against someone else's. Perhaps the real problem is human gullibility.
That’s demonstrably false. Also state atheist china is state atheist and forces no religion. The problem is force.
Christian nationalism is alive and well here in Tn. I wish more writers would discuss it as it manifests in their states, as well.
Do you think it'd be okay if I send an email to the agency in TN?
Would be a great idea to raise your voice for justice.
WT Actual F???!!! I’m shocked and outraged about this because I didn’t think that white nationalists would actually have this law in place for Jewish people in 2026. This couple must prevail. Hate and Depravity in TN and elsewhere.