SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP, WLTX) - California is banning state-funded travel to South Carolina because of policies it considers discriminatory toward LGBT people.
Attorney General Xavier Becerra announced the ban Tuesday. He says a provision in a budget bill passed last year allows faith-based child-placing agencies to discriminate against those who do not conform to their religious beliefs or moral convictions, including members of the LGBTQ community.
South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster also issued an executive order requiring the Department of Social Services to let an Upstate foster car placing agency retain its licencing to protect their religious freedom.
Miracle Hill had come under scrutiny after potential foster parents were steered away from the organization based on their faith. They said they were told Miracle Hill only selected those who share its Christian beliefs.
DSS had expressed it wanted Miracle Hill to begin accepting non-Christian foster families or lose state support. McMaster said DSS needs to protect religious freedoms and ordered them to allow Miracle Hill and other faith based organizations to continue taking part in foster care programs.
Becerra's decision is based on a 2017 California law that bans state-funded or state-sponsored travel to states that authorize discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
California already bars official travel to Alabama, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee and Texas.
Brian Symmes, a spokesman for Republican South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster, made light of the ban on Twitter, writing "how will South Carolina recover?"