Utah judge reverses decision to take foster child from same-sex couple

A Utah judge today reversed an order to remove a foster child from a same-sex family and place her with a heterosexual couple. The 9-month-old baby will remain with foster parents April Hoagland and Beckie Peirce of Price, Utah, for now.

Judge Scott Johansen ruled Tuesday that the child should go to a different foster home because research has shown kids do better in a home with a mother and a father. The decision ignited a firestorm of criticism from social media, gay activist organizations, and the office of Utah Gov. Gary Herbert, who said Johansen should follow the law and not let his personal beliefs influence his decision.

In his initial ruling, Johansen wrote that, “the emotional problems suffered by children in same-sex relationships increase by a factor of four compared to children raised by heterosexual couples,” according to the The Salt Lake Tribune.

The couple’s attorney Jim Hunnicutt said he thought careful review of the law, not the public backlash, triggered the judge’s reversal. The full transcript of the ruling is not public record because Utah keeps foster care cases private.

Hoagland and Peirce married a year ago and also are raising Peirce’s two children, the Tribune reported. They want to adopt the foster child. Court papers reviewed by the Tribune stated both the Utah Division of Child and Family Services and the child’s biological mother support the adoption.

The state’s child welfare agency applauded the reversal today but cautioned that it might not be permanent. Johansen set a hearing in the case for Dec. 4. Spokeswoman Ashley Sumner said the agency wants to keep the child with Peirce and Hoagland.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.