Utah to challenge order to take baby from lesbians

Foster parents April Hoagland and Beckie Peirce are photographed on Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2015 in Salt Lake City. A judge who ordered that a baby be taken away from April Hoagland and Beckie Peirce, her lesbian foster parents and placed with a heterosexual couple should follow the law and not inject his personal beliefs into the matter, Utah’s Republican governor said Thursday, Nov. 12. STEVE GRIFFIN/THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE VIA AP

SALT LAKE CITY — Utah state officials are challenging a decision made by a judge to a take a baby away from lesbian foster parents and place her with a heterosexual couple for the child’s well-being.

Utah Division of Child and Family Services said in a news release Thursday afternoon that they will go to an appeals court if state juvenile Judge Scott Johansen doesn’t rescind his decision.

READ: Order to take baby from lesbian foster parents in Utah under review

The state agency says the judge went against its recommendation that the baby should stay with April Hoagland and Beckie Peirce, a married couple in Price, Utah.

In his decision, Johansen mentioned research that shows children do better when raised by heterosexual families.

Johansen is barred from commenting on the case.

The decision has generated widespread criticism, including from LGBT groups and Utah Gov. Gary Herbert.