Massachusetts officials have removed language from foster care licensing rules requiring parents to support and “affirm” the LGBTQIA+ identity of children in their care, after the requirement drew a warning from the Trump administration and a separate religious liberty lawsuit.

The gender identity mandate was challenged on First Amendment grounds in a federal lawsuit by conservative legal organization Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF). In September, federal regulators at the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) sent a letter to Massachusetts’ Department of Children and Families saying the policy violated constitutional protections, and they would be investigating. 

According to a Wednesday press release from ADF, the Massachusetts agency adopted an amended policy on Friday which removes the gender identity language from its licensing agreement. 

The updated policy, effective immediately, now requires foster parent applicants to support the “individual identity and needs” of a child rather than their “sexual orientation and gender identity.” 

MASSACHUSETTS FOSTER PARENTS STRIPPED OF LICENSE FOR REFUSING TO SIGN TRANSGENDER POLICY

“The Department of Children and Families’ top priority is providing a safe and supportive home for all children in foster care,” DCF Commissioner Staverne Miller told Fox News Digital in a statement. “We are also committed to ensuring that no one is prevented from applying or reapplying to be a foster parent because of their religious beliefs.”

According to the legal document shared by ADF, the DCF said its decision was based on communication from the Administration for Children and Families saying the state policy violated the constitutional rights of applicants.

“DCF is promulgating this amendment on an emergency basis in order to preempt any potential escalation by ACF,” the document reads.”These amendments address ACF’s concerns, while continuing to meet DCF’s needs for foster homes that support the identity and needs of the children in its custody,” it adds.

ADF attorneys challenged the policy on behalf of two religious foster families, Greg and Marianelly Schrock and Nick and Audrey Jones, who foster young children and refused to sign the gender contract. The Schrocks had their license revoked in June.

PARENTS SUE AFTER 11-YEAR-OLD GIRL FORCED TO SHARE BED WITH TRANSGENDER STUDENT ON SCHOOL TRIP

“Massachusetts has told us that this new regulation will no longer exclude Christian and other religious families from foster care because of their commonly held beliefs that boys are boys and girls are girls,” Alliance Defending Freedom Senior Counsel Johannes Widmalm-Delphonse said in the Wednesday announcement.

“Our clients—loving, caring foster families who have welcomed vulnerable children into their homes—as well as many other families affected by this policy, are eager to reapply for their licenses,” he added. “This amendment is a step in the right direction, and we commend Massachusetts officials for changing course. But this case will not end until we are positive that Massachusetts is committed to respecting religious persons and ideological diversity among foster parents.”

Another foster care couple in the blue state that was not involved in the federal lawsuit told Fox News Digital in November that they too had their licenses stripped over the previous gender identity policy.

Lydia and Heath Marvin, who had fostered eight children under age four since 2020, lost their licenses in April after unsuccessfully lobbying the state agency for religious accommodation.

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“We would absolutely love, care for, and support any child in our home, but this was asking us to go against our Christian faith,” Lydia Marvin previously told Fox News Digital.

Alex J. Adams, Assistant Secretary for the Administration for Children and Families at the HHS, sent the following statement to Fox News Digital:

“On the surface, Massachusetts’ action is a good first step, and we appreciate states undertaking efforts to increase their ratio of foster homes relative to the number of foster kids,” he said. “However, it remains to be seen if this language shift will actually change state practice around how foster families are licensed. ACF looks forward to diligent follow-up to ensure the red carpet is rolled out to all foster families.”

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When he interviewed with Boston College coach Steve Addazio and didn’t get the job, Watson never relented. He interviewed again with Jeff Hafley and was in the running, before landing a position at Florida State.

Recently, after stops at FSU, Georgia Tech, and Auburn, Watson interviewed once more at BC. This time, everything fell into place with Bill O’Brien at the helm. Watson is now the first general manager in Boston College football history.

“Third time’s the charm,” Watson said. “Once the interaction began, it was a natural fit. It wasn’t like, ‘Oh my God, they finished 2-10. I’m afraid of that.’ No, I love the challenge. It’s an honor to have the opportunity.”

Watson first played competitive football at age 7 and immediately fell in love with the game. His mother ran track at Simon Gratz High School in Philadelphia, which explains Watson’s blazing speed.

Scarlett, a single mother, worked multiple jobs to provide for her family. Watson said he never went a day without thinking they were the richest people in the world. His mother always ensured he had the best cleats and bike helmet to keep up with his peers.

“Amazing woman. Just amazing,” Watson said. “She taught me discipline. She instilled that hard work will always win. She taught me to never give up.”

Watson starred at Deerfield Beach High and garnered heavy national interest. BC entered the picture relatively late, and Watson always smiles when he thinks about his first interaction with coach Tom Coughlin.

When Coughlin and assistant coach Randy Edsall entered Watson’s living room, before they could get a word in, Scarlett turned to them and addressed the elephant in the room.

“You’re not going to make him turn Catholic, are you?” Watson recalls his mother asking.

Coughlin clarified that they were not, and a conversation flowed naturally from there. Watson helped the Eagles to a 9-3 season as a freshman in 1993, highlighted by wins over No. 13 Syracuse, No. 25 Virginia Tech, and No. 1 Notre Dame.

Watson gravitated toward the gritty nature of the program under Coughlin. The Eagles couldn’t wear earrings or have facial hair below the bottom lip. There was no indoor facility, so practices were outdoors in the cold. Games were won in the trenches, and opposing players left battered and bruised.

“Tom Coughlin taught me discipline,” Watson said. “He taught hard work. He taught me to always have a plan, and then if that plan didn’t work, make sure you had another plan.”

The Eagles finished 7-4-1 the next year under Dan Henning. Watson, a wide receiver and returner, teamed up with quarterback Glenn Foley for one season, Mark Hartsell for two, and Matt Hasselbeck for one.

Watson finished his career with 93 catches for 1,215 yards and five touchdowns, along with a rushing TD and two punt returns for scores.

Watson dreamed of a long and fruitful career in the NFL. After a brief stint with the Cowboys in 1997, he realized that wasn’t feasible and pivoted to helping the next generation.

Watson spearheaded the creation of a highly successful travel football program in Georgia, the Gwinnett Chargers, that has since sent dozens of players to Division 1 college programs and several to the NFL.

He then worked for a company called 3Step Sports that helps young prospects gain exposure, and Grayson High School in Loganville, Ga., as a college recruiting liaison. Mentoring and inspiring kids was fulfilling, yet he knew he was capable of even more.

Eventually, that opportunity came at Florida State under Mike Norvell as director of player relations and a pro scout liaison. Watson was later the director of scouting at Georgia Tech for two seasons, followed by assistant general manager/recruiting at Auburn for two years.

BC was far away geographically, yet very much on his mind and in his heart. When everything finally aligned, it felt serendipitous.

“I tell kids all the time, if you look at my story and you look at my journey, anything is possible, as long as you keep working hard and keep believing in you,” Watson said.

When Watson speaks with parents, they rarely discuss football. Watson, whose sons, Kenyatta and Jett, have been highly recruited, tells them what to expect.

He prides himself on his ability to build and maintain relationships, which he believes pays dividends initially and when players transfer.

“One of the things that we needed to do was do a great job of upgrading how we acquire talent,” O’Brien said in a BC Athletics video. “Kenyatta has an unbelievable track record.”

Watson referenced Vanderbilt, Virginia, Georgia Tech, and Duke as prestigious academic institutions that have revitalized their football programs. If they can do it, Watson said, so can BC.

Director of athletics Blake James called the hiring a “huge win,” referring to Watson as someone who can help the Eagles compete on a national level.

“He’s someone who understands what it means to be a Boston College student-athlete and how that’s different from other places,” James said.

As Watson got off the plane Dec. 7, and arrived for work the following day, it felt surreal to complete a dream nearly 30 years later.

With notes from grateful alumni on his desk, and a warm welcome from O’Brien and Co., it immediately felt like home again.

Then, it was time to work.

“Let’s build this thing back up,” Watson said.

Trevor Hass can be reached at trevor.hass@globe.com. Follow him on X @TrevorHass.