Kansas child welfare audit won't cover LGBT discrimination allegations

Topeka, Kan. (AP) — Lawmakers approved an audit Wednesday of the Kansas Department for Children and Families, but it won't include an investigation into allegations that the agency discriminates against same-sex couples.

After deadlocking on the sought-after anti-gay discrimination investigation, the Legislative Post Audit Committee eventually decided to delay the issue until its April meeting, The Wichita Eagle (bit.ly/23078wR) reported. The audit that was approved will focus on safety and privatization.

Sen. Michael O'Donnell, a Wichita Republican, said the audit will be the "most comprehensive" of the foster care system in the state's history.

But Rep. Jim Ward, a Wichita Democrat who had proposed an audit focused on claims that the agency weighs sexual orientation in foster care placements, called the decision "simply unbelievable."

In recent months, several couples have stepped forward to accuse the agency of discrimination. Legal documents have also surfaced showing two cases in which DCF officials discussed the sexual orientation of foster parents when recommending they be moved from those placements.

Ward had previously given the committee signed statements from 13 attorneys saying they had evidence that DCF had weighed sexual orientation in adoption and foster care cases. They are barred from disclosing that evidence because of confidentiality laws but could share it if a state audit was approved.

Tom Witt, executive director of Equality Kansas, a gay rights group, called the decision an attempt to "cover up DCF's repugnant discriminatory practices."

DCF Secretary Phyllis Gilmore said in December that an audit would show that the allegations against the agency were false.

Jeff Kahrs, the chief of staff for Gilmore, appeared before the committee and dissuaded lawmakers from including a question about same-sex couples in the audit, the newspaper reported. The proposed question read: "What are DCF's formal policies and actual practices regarding the placement of foster care and adoptive children with same-sex couples, and how do they compare to those in other states?"

Kahrs said in a statement that DCF opposed the "accusatory, inflammatory and overall biased language as was proposed in the question pertaining to homosexuality."

DCF spokeswoman Theresa Freed said in an email that the agency supports "a fair and thorough audit."

Information from: The Wichita (Kan.) Eagle, Wichita, KS.

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The Gayly – January 14, 2016 @ 7:30 a.m.