Oregon no longer requires prospective foster and adoptive parents to agree in advance to affirm a child’s sexual orientation or gender identity, after settling a lawsuit with Jessica Bates; the state says it can still weigh each child’s needs in placement decisions.
Bates sued in 2023 after Oregon deemed her ineligible to adopt from foster care because she would not agree to support a child’s LGBTQ+ identity. A federal appeals court ruled in July 2025 that Oregon could not apply the requirement to her while the case proceeded. The settlement lets Bates seek approval as an adoptive parent, but grants her neither a license nor a child placement.
Oregon’s Department of Human Services said it would continue prioritizing children’s safety and seeking supportive homes. Basic Rights Oregon warned the settlement could leave prospective parents who reject a child’s identity eligible for consideration; Bates’s lawyers at Alliance Defending Freedom called it a victory for parents with similar religious beliefs. The CDC says family acceptance is linked to better health outcomes, and a 2024 JAMA Pediatrics study found supportive family environments helped mitigate suicide-attempt and runaway risks among transgender youth.
