State of Oklahoma Archives: on Families & Children

Kevin Stitt: Vaccination should be between a parent & their pediatrician

Stitt refused to say whether he would apply a litmus test for any state Supreme Court pick to ensure they would support laws that rein in abortions.

Responding to a question on media coverage suggesting he opposed immunizations for children, Stitt said he and his wife had all their children vaccinated and that he doesn't intend to overhaul any state laws. "All I've said is that vaccination should be between a parent and their pediatrician," he said. "I don't support changing any law whatsoever and I have the same opinion as my opponent."

Ervin Yen: Has pressed for increasing vaccinations of school children

Mary Fallin: Disallow adoptions in LGBT homes

The bill written by Republican Sen. Greg Treat provides legal protections to faith-based agencies that won't place children in LGBT homes because of religious or moral convictions or policies. Fallin's action drew support from Oklahoma's Catholic bishops. "The new law will bring more adoption services to the state and allow crucial faith-based agencies to continue their decades-long tradition of caring for Oklahoma's most vulnerable children," the bishops said in a statement.

The adoption law goes into effect Nov. 1.

Mary Fallin: Allow religious discrimination by child welfare agencies

Human Rights Campaign analysis: HRC condemned a bill that would allow child welfare organizations--including adoption and foster care agencies--to turn away qualified Oklahomans seeking to care for a child in need, including LGBTQ couples, interfaith couples, single parents, married couples in which one prospective parent has previously been divorced, or other parents to whom the agency has a religious objection.

Legislative Outcome: Passed Senate 33-7-7 on May/3/18; Passed House 56-21-23 on May/3/18; Signed by Governor Mary Fallin on May/11/18

Ervin Yen: Allow religious discrimination by child welfare agencies

Human Rights Campaign analysis: HRC condemned a bill that would allow child welfare organizations--including adoption and foster care agencies--to turn away qualified Oklahomans seeking to care for a child in need, including LGBTQ couples, interfaith couples, single parents, married couples in which one prospective parent has previously been divorced, or other parents to whom the agency has a religious objection.

Legislative Outcome: Passed Senate 33-7-7 on May/3/18; State Sen. Ervin Yen voted YES; Passed House 56-21-23 on May/3/18; Signed by Governor Mary Fallin on May/11/18

Scott Inman: Against religious discrimination by child welfare agencies

Human Rights Campaign analysis: HRC condemned a bill that would allow child welfare organizations--including adoption and foster care agencies--to turn away qualified Oklahomans seeking to care for a child in need, including LGBTQ couples, interfaith couples, single parents, married couples in which one prospective parent has previously been divorced, or other parents to whom the agency has a religious objection.

Legislative Outcome: Passed Senate 33-7-7 on May/3/18; Passed House 56-21-23 on May/3/18; State Rep. Scott Inman voted NO; Signed by Governor Mary Fallin on May/11/18

T.W. Shannon: Use TANF funds to publicize benefits of marriage

House Bill 1908, authored by House Speaker T.W. Shannon, would take money designated to help needy families and divert it to a campaign promoting marriage. The bill passed the House and was sent to the Senate this week.

The bill, if it becomes law, would create a public service campaign as part of the Oklahoma Marriage Initiative and utilize federal TANF funds, to promote marriage as a tool against poverty.

TANF--Temporary Assistance for Needy Families--was designed to help low-income families on a temporary basis. The bill would take funds from families and put it into advertising telling single parents the benefits of marriage.

Brad Henry: Family anchors us and reminds us of what is truly important

We shoulder tremendous responsibilities: to build a first-class education system; to cultivate economic opportunity; to ensure affordable, accessible health care; to nurture a society in which families and individuals can live in safety, peace and prosperity.

The journey toward these goals requires a compass to keep us on a steady course. I am grateful for my own compass: my faithful family. Family anchors us and reminds us of what is truly important and why we chose a path of public service.