“While we are relieved that this decision only applies to this specific contract, and hopeful that Philadelphia will be able to address the constitutional concerns the Court identified, we want to directly address LGBTQ youth in the Philadelphia foster care system.
 
Please know that you are loved. We will continue to work hard to make sure that there are loving, affirming homes for you. We’re behind you,and the city is behind you. You deserved an unequivocal win here.
 
To LGBTQ folks considering becoming foster parents - you are just as qualified to be foster parents as anyone else. There is no reason our families should be turned away from fostering children. We are working hard to make sure your family is respected and affirmed in the foster care system in Philadelphia as you seek to provide support for children in foster care.
 
PFP and our members would like thank our attorneys at the the ACLU, the ACLU of PA, and the City of Philadelphia."

Statement of PFP ED Stephanie Haynes, stephanie@phillyfamilypride.org.

Click here to read the ACLU's press release explaining the decision.

RSVP for the #DecisionDay town hall and rally tonight at www.decisionday.org.

Help us welcome Sara Banbury (she/her/hers) to the Philadelphia Family Pride team as a summer intern through the Bridging the Gaps Community Health Internship Program (BTGCHIP). BTGCHIP is an interdisciplinary program for graduate-level trainees in healthcare and social services which aims to deliver health-related support to marginalized populations across Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

This summer, Sara will serve as an organizational support for Philadelphia Family Pride from home four days a week, focusing on the Paths to Parenthood program for prospective parents and working on reconstituting our in-person community as we continue figuring out how to emerge from the virtual world!  Additionally, Sara will spend one day per week with other BTGCHIP students in curricular sessions focused on improving healthcare delivery for vulnerable populations.

Sara is a rising second-year student at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. There she is one of the co-chairs of Penn Med Pride, is also involved in Students Opposing Racism in Medicine (StORM) and Family Connects, a virtual social needs response team in the CHOP Emergency Department.
Sara received her bachelor’s degree in Community Health from Tufts University in 2018 and worked as a field organizer for the Nevada Democrats, as well as in private and public education prior to attending medical school.

Her interests include pediatrics, dermatology and combining medicine with advocacy, especially as it pertains to underserved communities access to healthcare.

Sara spent time abroad as a child, attending the International School of Bangkok before returning to Westport, Connecticut for high school. She currently lives in Graduate Hospital with three other friends and medical students. She enjoys cooking, experimenting  with gluten free baking, and beach days. She is looking forward to a great summer with Philadelphia Family Pride, her first choice placement with BTGCHIP!