Vermont Forced Christian Foster Parents to Embrace LGBT Ideology. They Fought Back and Won.

Vermont Settles Lawsuits, Restores Foster Care Licenses to Christian Families Who Refused to Endorse Gender Ideology

The state of Vermont has officially adopted new guidance that eliminates the requirement for prospective foster parents to embrace LGBT ideology as a condition of licensure. The settlement, announced in February 2026, also restores the foster care licenses of multiple Christian families whose certifications were previously revoked over their religious beliefs.

The Vermont Department of Children and Families (DCF) reached the agreement after facing lawsuits from Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) and the Center for American Liberty on behalf of three couples: Pastor Brian Wuoti and his wife Katy, Pastor Bryan Gantt and his wife Rebecca, and Melinda Antonucci and Casey Mathieu.

Under the previous policy, Vermont's DCF required foster parents to support and affirm LGBT identifying youth, use prescribed pronouns, bring children to LGBT organizations and events, and facilitate gender affirming medical appointments. Families who expressed religious objections to these requirements had their licenses revoked.

The updated guidance now states:

Applicants' sincerely held personal, cultural, religious, moral, or philosophical beliefs shall not be considered in the licensing process.

Under the new rules, foster parents will no longer be required to endorse specific gender identities, use prescribed pronouns related to gender identity, or facilitate gender affirming medical procedures. Expressing limitations about caring for children with diverse identities will not be deemed inherently discriminatory and will instead be handled through matching decisions rather than licensing determinations.

Brian and Katy Wuoti responded to the settlement saying:

We're thankful that common sense won out in protecting children's need for a safe and loving home.

Michael and Rebecca Gantt emphasized the urgency of the situation, noting that there are "more kids in the foster care system than there are families to care for them."

Center for American Liberty attorney Josh Dixon called the outcome "a major win for constitutional rights and for kids who need safe, loving homes."

Vermont Christian Foster Parents Win Religious Freedom Battle Against State Gender Ideology Mandate

The conflict began when Melinda Antonucci posted a Facebook link to a petition advocating parental rights in the Essex Westford School District, requesting that schools inform parents before assisting children's social transitions. A DCF employee subsequently called Antonucci, informing her that foster homes must "affirm" transgender identifying children. The Wuotis and Gantts faced similar requirements and had their licenses revoked when they declined on religious grounds.

All three couples stated they would willingly foster LGBT identifying children but drew the line at facilitating medical transitions, requiring family members to use preferred pronouns, and endorsing specific ideologies that conflicted with their sincerely held Christian beliefs.

Alliance Defending Freedom represented the Wuotis and Gantts, while the Center for American Liberty represented Antonucci and Mathieu. The settlement brings an end to years of litigation and sets a precedent that religious beliefs cannot be used to disqualify otherwise qualified foster families.

The Crusader's Opinion

Let me be absolutely clear about what happened here. The state of Vermont looked at loving Christian families who wanted to open their homes to vulnerable children and said, "Your faith disqualifies you." They chose ideology over orphans. They would rather children sit in the system without families than place them with parents who believe what billions of Christians have believed for two thousand years.

Thank God that Alliance Defending Freedom and the Center for American Liberty fought back and won. But the fact that it took lawsuits to force a government to stop punishing people for their faith in America should alarm every believer. This is what happens when the state decides it knows better than God. They will always come for your children first.

Take Action

• Support Alliance Defending Freedom, the legal organization that fought and won this case for the Wuoti and Gantt families. Consider a donation to fund future religious liberty cases.
• Support the Center for American Liberty, which represented the Antonucci and Mathieu family in this lawsuit.
• Contact your state legislators and ask whether your state has similar ideological requirements for foster parents. Demand transparency in foster care licensing policies.
• If you are a Christian family considering fostering, do not let fear of government overreach stop you. There are more children in need than families willing to help. Contact your local foster care agency today.
• Donate to The Shepherd's Shield to support persecuted Christians and families standing up for their faith around the world.