Thursday, April 27th’s edition of the Missourian ran a piece titled “Changes Afoot for Diversity Bill,” which discussed the Emily Brooker Intellectual Diversity Act, also known as House Bill 213. The following passage is excerpted from the article. It states:
“Brooker, who graduated from Missouri State University in May, said that in a policy class she was required to write a letter advocating on behalf of gay couples who wish to adopt children. She completed the entire assignment, but would not sign the letter because she said it conflicted with her religious beliefs. For that, her grade was dropped.”
Friday, April 28th’s print edition of the Missourian then ran a clarification which stated simply that “Emily Brooker was required to sign a document agreeing to abide by the National Association of Social Workers’ Code of Ethics.”
Given that the movement for House Bill 213 is predicated on an alleged coercion to sign “a letter advocating on behalf of gay couples who wish to adopt children,” it would seem appropriate, if not imperative, that the clarification to a “document agreeing to abide by the National Association of Social Workers’ Code of Ethics” be featured more prominently. Moreover, a story which explains, or exposes, the origin of this confusion made not only by the Missourian, but apparently in the press at large, would greatly benefit the reading and voting public.
Editor’s note: To read the National Association of Social Workers’ Code of Ethics, go to socialworkers.org/pubs/code/code.asp.