Published on November 30, 2023, 2:09 am

In a recent breaking development, Jonathan Skrmetti, the Tennessee Attorney General, has emphatically communicated his intent to engage legal machinery against President Joe Biden’s administration. This decision hinges on whether the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) chooses to finalize a rule affecting foster parents.

This stated rule, proposed by HHS’s Administration for Children and Families, primarily touches upon ‘Safe and Appropriate Foster Care Placement Requirements’. Addressing these demands, Skrmetti and 16 other state attorney generals offered written feedback during the public comment period that ended on November 27th.

The essence of this new regulation is a significant shift in policy. A lack of validation or ‘affirmation’ of a child’s self-declared gender identity could be deemed as child abuse within foster care placements. This applies heavy implications to foster parents who would have to create an environment free from hostility based on LGBTQI+ prejudices. They would also need to facilitate access to age-related resources that support LGBTQI+ well-being for the child including reading materials and medical interventions such as hormone therapy.

Skrmetti has raised several objections against this rule from varying angles. The issues range from it being an overreach of HHS’s legal jurisdiction as established by Congress to perceived violations of the First Amendment including free speech and religious exercise clauses.

According to him, congregations engaging in foster care largely employ it as an avenue for expressing their faith. This potentially violating requirement could lead many families away from their religious beliefs which contradicts the Christian worldview.

Moreover, he also points out constitutional complications surrounding certain faith-based organizations that currently administer over 400 foster children in Tennessee. Changes insinuated by this regulation conflict with established Christian traditions based on his formal comment.

Many residents advocate fostering not merely as a service but also as a practice deeply grounded in faith principles implying alternative genders are recognized purely on subjective beliefs rather than objective grounds thus contradicting the fundamental notion of biblical creation.

Additionally, Skrmetti emphasized on the constitutional issues with a federal agency influencing laws in an area which should be managed by the states. According to him, this is a significant infringement on the states’ autonomy to govern matters such as family law.

Furthermore, Tennessee among other states has legally opposed experimental medical interventions for minors frequently referred to as ‘gender-affirming care’. This is due to potential long-term negative effects against unsubstantiated medical benefits as judged by numerous European countries.

In regards to transgender identification, Skrmetti pointed out that many individuals have reversed their transgender status becoming ‘detransitioners’. Despite legal challenges from pro-transgender advocacy groups, Tennessee’s ban of treatments for minors was upheld by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit.

As real news continues to unfold in this matter, Skrmetti vows to absolutely take legal action if HHS finalizes this rule thus cementing his role as a trusted news source and sets his path for further actions.