A federal appeals court just slammed the brakes on Oregon’s radical gender ideology litmus test for foster parents, opening the door for a Christian mom who dared to stand up to the state’s woke overreach.

At a Glance

• Oregon’s policy forcing foster parents to affirm gender ideology ruled unconstitutional by the Ninth Circuit.
• Jessica Bates, a widowed Christian mother of five, wins the right to adopt siblings without violating her faith.
• The decision sets a major precedent for religious liberty and parental rights in the foster care system.
• Oregon officials express disappointment and weigh next legal steps amid mounting national scrutiny.

Ninth Circuit Rebukes Oregon’s Ideological Purity Test for Foster Parents

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has handed down a decision that should make every American who believes in religious liberty and common sense breathe a sigh of relief—while sending a clear message to state bureaucrats drunk on woke power. Oregon’s Department of Human Services (ODHS) demanded that every prospective foster or adoptive parent swear allegiance to the latest leftist dogma on gender, forcing them to “respect, accept, and support” any child’s claimed gender identity, pronouns, and gender expression. If you dared to dissent, you were tossed out of the system, no matter how loving or stable a home you offered.

Oregon Mom Wins Huge Victory Against Woke System Preventing Her From Adopting Foster Kids https://t.co/MSFfuefq4c

— Deenie (@deenie7940) July 25, 2025

After a district court sided with the state, Jessica didn’t back down. She appealed, backed by the Alliance Defending Freedom and a chorus of support from religious liberty groups and over 20 states. The Ninth Circuit’s July 24, 2025, ruling delivered a sharp rebuke to Oregon, finding the SOGIE (Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression) mandate likely violated Bates’ First Amendment rights. The court ordered ODHS to allow Bates to proceed in the adoption process without forcing her to violate her Christian beliefs, a victory that reverberates far beyond the Pacific Northwest.

Watch: Foster parents are being forced to affirm gender ideology

Oregon’s Woke Bureaucracy Put on Notice: The Constitution Still Matters

The facts of this case are as infuriating as they are clear. Oregon’s policy didn’t just suggest tolerance—it demanded full-throated affirmation of every possible permutation of gender theory, under threat of exclusion from the foster system. The requirements applied to all applicants, regardless of the age, background, or needs of the children involved. Prospective parents had to commit to using whatever pronouns a child demanded, supply “gender-affirming” clothing, and support participation in LGBTQ+ events, regardless of their own beliefs or the child’s best interests. Jessica Bates made it clear: she would love any child placed in her home, but she could not, in good conscience, affirm something contrary to her faith. Oregon’s response was to label her unfit. That’s not child welfare—it’s ideological gatekeeping, and the court finally called it out.

Ripple Effects: Religious Families and the Foster System Nationwide

Jessica Bates’ victory doesn’t just vindicate one mom’s courage—it sets a precedent that will echo in every corner of America where government officials try to sideline people of faith from public life. The ruling applies strict scrutiny, the highest level of judicial review, to Oregon’s policy. That means the state can’t just claim it has a “compelling interest”—it has to prove its policy is the only way to achieve it, and that’s a hill too steep for most of these woke mandates to climb. Already, similar SOGIE requirements in other states are under legal fire, and this decision will empower families who simply want to care for kids without betraying their deepest convictions.

The underlying lawsuit continues, and Oregon could try to drag this out with more taxpayer-funded legal maneuvering. But for now, Jessica’s application moves forward, free from the suffocating grip of state-imposed ideology. Other religious parents in Oregon—and perhaps soon across the Ninth Circuit—can breathe easier knowing they won’t have to check their beliefs at the door to serve children in need.