Federal judge says New York State cannot require area adoption agency to provide services to unmarried or same sex couples

A federal court judge has ruled in favor of an area adoption agency, who filed a lawsuit in retaliation over its service policies.

According to the Associated Press, U.S. District Court Judge Mae A. D’Agostino declared that New York State cannot require New Hope Family Services to provide adoption services to same sex and or unmarried couples.

The agency, based in Syracuse, NY, cited they will not offer such services, claiming religious beliefs.

In 2018, the state’s Office of Children and Family Services told New Hope to revise its “discriminatory and impermissible” policy, or have their adoption program done away with.

New Hope retaliated with a lawsuit. Judge D’Agostino cited protection of free speech in her ruling Tuesday.