In Massachusetts, one couple’s strong religious beliefs have landed them in hot water, and now, they’re no longer allowed to foster children. What started as an attempt to open their home to kids in need quickly spiraled into a controversy over LGBTQ+ rights, religious freedom, and what it truly means to love and support a child.
The couple, identified as the Marvins, had planned to turn their Massachusetts home into a haven for foster children up to eight at a time. They already have three biological kids of their own, but they wanted to do more. The problem? They weren’t willing to agree to the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families’ (DCF) LGBTQIA+ Nondiscrimination Policy.
This policy requires foster parents to “accept a child’s assertion” of their gender identity and use their preferred name and pronouns. It’s a rule designed to ensure that foster children, many of whom have already faced rejection, feel safe, seen, and respected.
But for the Marvins, that was a dealbreaker. “We will absolutely love and support and care for any child in our home,” Lydia Marvin said in an interview, adding, “But we simply can’t agree to go against our Christian faith.”
Massachusetts Couple Loses Foster Parent License After Refusing To Comply With LGBTQ+ Policy
That statement, as many pointed out, comes with a big asterisk. How can you claim unconditional love while rejecting a part of a child’s identity? For the DCF, that contradiction was enough to revoke the couple’s foster license.
Naturally, this decision stirred up strong reactions, especially in Massachusetts, a state known for its progressive LGBTQ+ protections. The Marvins didn’t back down, though. Instead, they teamed up with two other Christian families and filed a lawsuit against the state, arguing that their First Amendment rights were being violated.
Their case even drew support from the Acting Assistant Secretary of the Administration for Children and Families, who called the DCF’s policy “deeply troubling” and “contrary to the purpose of child welfare programs.”
Not everyone agreed. TikToker @adopted_connor, who shared the story online, criticized the families’ stance and the broader issues within the foster care system. He argued that what’s truly troubling isn’t the state’s policy, it’s that some families treat foster care like a “try before you buy” system for kids. His point? Too many foster parents seem more interested in shaping children into their version of “acceptable” rather than supporting who those children actually are.
The Internet Isn’t Happy
This case highlights a growing tension in Massachusetts and across the country: where do we draw the line between religious freedom and a child’s right to feel accepted and loved for who they are?
“They wanted to take in EIGHT more kids. They just wanted the money,” one person commented. Another wrote, “They shouldn’t be allowed to foster with that mentality,” another wrote. “They’re upset they’re not allowed to openly discriminate against children,” a third person wrote.
At the end of the day, fostering is about giving kids stability, safety, and unconditional love, not love with strings attached. In Massachusetts, it’s clear that the state stands firmly behind protecting LGBTQ+ youth, and the Marvins’ story is a reminder that if your version of love excludes acceptance, maybe fostering just isn’t for you.
Sabrina Russell 
Kendra Quinn 
Kenna Raye 
