A Christian couple in Washington state has secured a major legal victory for religious liberty after the state government agreed to settle a lawsuit over its policy requiring foster parents to use preferred pronouns and support gender transitions.

Shane and Jennifer DeGross, who had served as foster parents for nearly a decade, were denied a full license in 2022 because they could not, in good conscience, comply with the Department of Children, Youth, and Families’ rules on gender ideology. The couple filed suit in 2024 with the help of the Alliance Defending Freedom, arguing the policy violated their First Amendment rights.

Under the settlement, Washington must revise its licensing policies to respect the religious beliefs of foster families. The state is now prohibited from placing conditions or restrictions on licenses based solely on religious convictions regarding marriage, gender, or sexual relationships. Washington officials also agreed to pay $250,000 in attorneys’ fees.

The resolution comes weeks after a federal court ruling found that the state’s policy violated the First Amendment. Alliance Defending Freedom Senior Counsel Johannes Widmalm-Delphonse called the outcome a win for religious diversity and common sense.

“This is a win-win because it will ensure more families can serve as foster parents to help meet the needs of every precious child in Washington’s foster-care system,” he said.

The case highlights growing tensions between religious liberty and state-imposed gender policies in child welfare systems across the country.