An Oklahoma law taking effect November 1 will prohibit denying someone the opportunity to adopt or foster a child solely because they use language consistent with a child’s biological sex or choose to raise the child accordingly.
House Bill 3586, known as the Right to Raise Act, was authored by Representative Erick Harris. The measure also specifies that those actions alone do not constitute child abuse, neglect or child endangerment.
Harris said the law is intended to protect parents’ decisions about raising their children.
“Parents are responsible for raising their children, and government has a responsibility to respect that role,” Harris said.
During House debate, Harris emphasized that the measure does not prevent authorities from pursuing abuse or neglect charges when warranted.
“If a parent is abusing their child, this bill still allows that parent to be charged with abuse, to be charged with child neglect, and whatever else that parent should be charged with for committing a crime,” Harris said.
Harris pointed to legal disputes in other states as reasons for establishing the standard in Oklahoma.
“Across the country, families have challenged child-welfare decisions they say penalized them for their beliefs about biological sex and gender identity,” Harris said. “Oklahoma’s Right to Raise Act establishes a clear standard for our state: parents should not be treated as abusive or neglectful simply because they hold those beliefs.”
