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In an emotionally charged hearing, state lawmakers approved legislation allowing private adoption agencies to site religious freedom to deny adoptions to some would be parents. As Mike Vasilinda tells us opponents fear the provision would be used to discriminate against gay adoptions.

Daniel Nurse is a gay adoptive father of three. He was near tears, fearing the legislation would legalize discriminate against people like he and his partner.

“We adopted these three children and we faced the same biased racisms that are outlined in this bill when we went to adopt” said Nurse.

Carlos Smith liked the idea to religious freedom laws in Indiana and Arkansas.

“This threatens Florida’s tourism based economy” warned Smith.

Both Baptist and Catholic organizations championed the idea, with Bill Bunkley from Florida Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission saying the discrimination is already happening.“This is the way we have been doing things the last five or more plus years” Bunkley told the committee.Rep. Dave Kerner tried to water the bill down but failed.

“Basically saying we want discrimination to occur in the state of Florida against gay people. That is precisely what is going on in Indiana. This is going to be a fire storm in the state of Florida.”

After overwhelming approval by the committee, we spoke with Anthony Siegrise of Clearwater He was adopted by gay parents when he was 13.

Q: “And you had no problem with it”

“No, I had no qualm whatsoever.”

Q:”How’s it working out?”

“It’s worked fine. I get good grades in school, I have lots of friends.”

The sponsor readily admits that this legislation is in direct response to the state legalizing gay adoptions, and that was mandated by the court.

Sponsor Jason Brodeur also concedes the law would allow discrimination against straight couples living together.

“That individual private organization may opt to do that, and what they would do is refer them to one of the other 81 agencies.”

Even supporters worry legalizing discrimination could be unconstitutional.”

Florida’s constitution also bans state money being sent to religious organizations, and many of the privately operated adoption agencies are under contract with the Department of Children and Families.