U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-New York, has introduced the Every Child Deserves a Family Act to end discriminatory laws that allow organizations to discriminate against prospective adoptive and foster parents based on sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, or religion.

The legislation would also prohibit discrimination against children and youth in the foster care system on the basis of religion, gender identity or sexual orientation, and would ensure that they are not subject to harmful practices, such as conversion therapy.

“Our nation’s foster care system is overburdened, and hundreds of thousands of children need a loving home,” Gillibrand said. “We should never allow organizations that receive taxpayer dollars to discriminate against caring and responsible foster and adoptive parents or children who deserve a safe and happy place to live because of their sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, or religion. My legislation would end this outrageous discriminatory policy, create a system that supports the best interests of children, foster, and adoptive parents alike, and help open doors for more children in need.”

According to the Family Equality Council, there are more than 440,000 children in the foster care system. 120,000 of these children are waiting for a permanent home. More than 20,000 children age out of care each year and don’t have a permanent home or adequate support or resources.

Specifically, the Every Child Deserves a Family Act would do the following:

¯ Prohibit organizations receiving federal funding from discriminating against children, youth, families, and individuals on the basis of religion, sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity), and marital status in the administration and provision of child welfare services.

¯ Ban conversion therapy for children participating in child welfare programs receiving federal funding.

¯ Promote safety, well-being, and permanency for LGBTQ children in foster care.