SALT LAKE CITY — State officials are challenging a decision made by a Utah judge to a take a baby away from lesbian foster parents and place her with a heterosexual couple for the child’s well-being.
Utah Division of Child and Family Services officials said Thursday in a statement that they will fight the ruling at the appeals court if Judge Scott Johansen doesn’t rescind his decision.
The state agency said the judge went against its recommendation that the 9-month old baby should stay with April Hoagland and Beckie Peirce, a married couple in Price.
In his decision, Johansen mentioned research that shows children do better when raised by heterosexual families, state officials said.
The decision has generated widespread criticism, including from national LGBT groups and Utah Gov. Gary Herbert.
Herbert said Thursday that Johansen should follow the law and not inject his personal beliefs into the decision. The state’s Republican governor told reporters that he is puzzled by the ruling.
The Associated Press
