January 5, 2026
Truth & Liberty hails Massachusetts’ reversal of gender ideology mandate for foster parents
State abandons rule forcing radical LGBT policies on families, safeguarding First Amendment rights and religious freedoms
WOODLAND PARK, Colo. — Truth & Liberty today applauded Massachusetts officials for dropping a contentious foster care licensing requirement that mandated prospective parents affirm and support a child’s sexual orientation and gender identity. The policy change, effective immediately, removes language critics said imposed radical gender ideology on families, violating their constitutional rights and excluding religious households from providing homes to vulnerable children.
The Massachusetts Department of Children and Families amended its foster care regulations on Friday through an emergency process, replacing the mandate to affirm LGBTQIA+ identities with a requirement for parents to support a child’s “individual identity and needs.” This shift comes after mounting pressure, including a federal warning from the Trump administration and a lawsuit challenging the rule on First Amendment grounds.
The original policy, which drew widespread criticism from religious liberty advocates, required foster parent applicants to pledge support for a child’s self-identified gender and sexual orientation, including using preferred pronouns and facilitating gender-affirming care.
“Truth & Liberty applauds the decision by Massachusetts regulators to abandon the new rule that would force radical LGBT insanity on foster parents in violation of the Bill of Rights,” said Richard Harris, executive director of Truth & Liberty and host of the Truth & Liberty Show. “We are thankful for the courageous stand taken by the Christian foster parents who refused to comply with the unconstitutional rule and challenged the mandate in court. These cases demonstrate that it is impossible to separate faith in God from our public lives and responsibilities. The role of faith is central to who we are as human beings; the government cannot be permitted to compel us to act contrary to our sincerely held convictions. The Bible teaches clearly that God made us male and female. We must affirm children in the biological reality of their God-given sex, not in the trauma induced delusions embraced by leftist LGBT ideology.”
The change was prompted in part by a letter from the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Federal regulators notified Massachusetts’ Department of Children and Families that the gender identity mandate violated constitutional protections, triggering an investigation.
A parallel federal lawsuit, filed by the public-interest legal group Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) on behalf of several Christian foster families, further highlighted the policy’s flaws. Plaintiffs included Greg and Marianelly Schrock, who had their foster license revoked in June after refusing to sign the gender affirmation agreement, citing their belief that “boys are boys and girls are girls.”
ADF Senior Counsel Johannes Widmalm-Delphonse praised the amendment as “a step in the right direction,” noting it should allow religious families to reapply without fear of exclusion based on their beliefs. However, he stressed the case would continue until Massachusetts demonstrates a commitment to respecting ideological diversity among foster parents.
This reversal marks a significant victory for religious liberty, aligning with broader efforts under the Trump administration to protect faith-based participation in social services. It also underscores ongoing national debates over balancing LGBTQ rights with First Amendment freedoms, particularly in child welfare systems facing chronic shortages of qualified families.
Harris added, “This decision not only restores common sense to Massachusetts’ foster care system but also sends a powerful message nationwide: Government overreach into personal beliefs will not stand. By protecting religious families, we ensure more children find loving, stable homes rooted in timeless truths.”
Truth & Liberty has long advocated for policies that uphold biblical principles in the public square, including through legal support, media outreach, and community mobilization. The organization views this outcome as a testament to the effectiveness of grassroots challenges against ideological mandates that undermine family values and constitutional freedoms.
Truth & Liberty Foundation, headquartered in Woodland Park, Colorado, educates, unifies and mobilizes believers in Jesus Christ to affect the reformation of nations through the seven mountains of cultural influence. Truth & Liberty stands for preserving America’s constitutional republic of government from the consent of the governed through democratically elected representatives to guarantee to each citizen their Creator-given rights.
Founded by Andrew Wommack and other Christian leaders, Truth & Liberty engages in various initiatives to educate, encourage, train and connect believers to stand for Truth in the public square. The foundation’s activities include television and web-based broadcasts, meetings and events, articles, blogs, media engagement, civic mobilization, creating and connecting people to resources, and working to unify and foster strategic collaboration.
The heart of Truth & Liberty is to mobilize the church to engage with biblical truth. Often finding that churches and pastors don’t know where to start, the foundation’s goal is to educate their audience and connect them with resources and organizations nationwide to help them impact their own spheres of influence.
The Truth & Liberty Show, hosted by Executive Director Richard Harris, explores meaningful conversations with pastors, thought leaders and influencers who are making a real difference in the public square. The show premieres every Wednesday and Friday at 6 p.m. MT with recurring contributors and guest hosts.
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To interview a representative from Truth & Liberty Foundation, contact Media@HamiltonStrategies.com, Beth Bogucki, 610.584.1096 ext. 105, Dawn Foglein, ext. 100, or Richard Jefferson, rjefferson@hamiltonstrategies.com.
