It is tempting to believe in the past few weeks that the U.S. Supreme Court, albeit conservative leaning, is growing supportive of LGBTQ rights despite religious counterarguments. This positivity can cast a rose-colored glow on the upcoming SCOTUS decision regarding LGBTQ adoption rights here in Philadelphia. But the recent July 8 SCOTUS ruling on Little Sisters of the Poor v. Pennsylvania reiterated the court's tepid support when deciding cases hinged upon religious freedom. Unfortunately, the upcoming case Fulton v. Philadelphia fits the mold of a religious freedom argument precisely and pro-religious freedom rhetoric abounds:

"Philly is trying to shut down a 100-year-old Catholic ministry over the ministry's religious beliefs about marriage."

This incendiary statement given by Lori Windham, an attorney for Becket Law, is the crux of the firm's mounting case on behalf of the Catholic Social Services (CSS) against the city of Philadelphia. Fulton v. Philadelphia was filed July 22, 2019, in response to the city of Philadelphia barring CSS from providing foster care services after several complaints stating that CSS refused to consider same-sex couples as foster parents due to their LGBTQ+ status.