(The Lion) — Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) attorneys filed a federal lawsuit this week on behalf of two Massachusetts families after they were no longer allowed to continue serving as foster parents because of their religious beliefs about gender.

According to the suit, although the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families (DCF) needs foster families, it now requires every family to promise they will encourage a child to “transition” socially and medically, use a child’s chosen pronouns and “affirm” without question a child’s desire to change gender – even if it violates their faith.

The rule applies to all families, regardless of whether they have ever cared for a child who identifies as LGBT.

“Massachusetts’ foster care system is in crisis: The commonwealth has more than 1,400 children who are waiting to be placed with a loving family,” ADF Senior Counsel Johannes Widmalm-Delphonse said in a release. “Yet Massachusetts is putting its ideological agenda ahead of the needs of these suffering kids.”

One of the families, Nick and Audrey Jones, are Christians and have been licensed foster parents since 2023, caring for seven children under the age of six. They currently care for a 17-month-old girl who has lived with them for 15 months. DCF now intends to revoke their license and remove the child because of their religious beliefs.

Similarly, Greg and Marianelly Schrock have provided a home for 28 foster children since 2019. However, Massachusetts discontinued their foster-care license in June for the same reason.

Both families say they are willing to provide a loving and respectful home for any child, including those who identify as LGBT. However, the state demands foster parents sign a document promising to automatically “promote,” “support” and “affirm” a child’s gender identity or expression, the suit says.

ADF attorneys filed the lawsuit, Jones v. Mahaniah, on Wednesday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts.