Girl ousted from Christian school after being adopted by same-sex couple, family says
It was supposed to be another year at Bible Baptist Academy for 5-year-old Zoey Parker — another year with friends, teachers and staff she had become used to seeing in the halls of the Louisiana private school.
The new school year came on the heels of hardship and change for Zoey, whose parents have both died, Jennifer Parker, Zoey’s aunt who adopted her, told KPLC.
Jennifer Parker and her spouse, Emily Parker, officially adopted Zoey about a week before school was set to begin at Bible Baptist Academy in DeQuincy, they told KPLC.
But in the midst of the adoption came another loss — Zoey’s school.
Just two days before Zoey was supposed to start class, the Parkers were called into a meeting and told that the school would not educate Zoey because her adoptive parents were a same-sex couple, according to a Facebook post by Emily Parker.
“My child has lost so much,” Emily Parker wrote. “Her mother, her father, her whole life has been wrenched away before her 5th birthday. And now… her education, her friends, and her teachings of the God that she loves and I support.”
Emily Parker told KPLC they had visited the school on Aug. 3 to pick up Zoey’s uniform, pay fees and attend the open house, but got the notice that Zoey would not be allowed to attend the following week.
The admission policy for the Bible Baptist Academy specifies that parents must “maintain a home free from influences that are recognized as harmful and encourages that parents of students be members of a local Christian church as evidence that the parents are also actively working toward Christian training of the child.”
The school said in a statement referring to the incident that its “first obligation is to God and being faithful to Him,” and that the decision shouldn’t be taken as an act of malice against the family.
“We want our students to not only know our beliefs, but we want them to see them as well,” the school said in its statement. “Regarding personal relationships, we hold that those relationships, whether in dating or in marriage, should be between a man and a woman.”
According to Emily Parker, the school provided no opportunity to work through the situation or come to a compromise so Zoey could continue to attend the school.
Hundreds of people shared their support of the Parkers on Emily’s Facebook page.
“What BBA did was wrong. I hope the publicity on this entire situation has shed light on the many wrong doings of this church,” Emily Parker wrote. “I hope they choose their words more carefully, I hope that they accept and love all humans for their souls not their lifestyles.”
In its statement, the school said the decision reaffirms “the freedom to worship as we see fit.”
”As a Christian institution, we are protected by federal laws that give us the opportunity to teach and practice our beliefs,” the school said. “We feel deeply that our first obligation is to God and being faithful to Him.”
Days after social media stir around the school’s rejection, Zoey and her adoptive family found the young girl a new school.
Zoey will instead attend the Hamilton Christian Academy in Lake Charles, which states its vision is to “pursue educational excellence and produce graduates with Christ-like character who can analyze, understand, evaluate, and influence the world around them based on the eternal truths of God’s word.”
“I am sorry for all the turmoil that has quickly risen but this was never about my marriage. It was for my girl,” Emily Parker wrote on Facebook. “Thank you to every single soul that has called, texted, commented, and prayed for our family. Together we stand.”
The U.S. Census estimated that in 2019, 292,000 children were living in a household with same-sex parents or guardians.
DeQuincy is about 100 miles northwest of Lafayette.
This story was originally published August 10, 2022 at 3:53 PM with the headline "Girl ousted from Christian school after being adopted by same-sex couple, family says."
