Following deeply passionate debate, the Florida House on Thursday passed an unexpectedly controversial bill allowing adoption and foster-care agencies to deny parents based on the organization’s religious beliefs.

Filed in response to a March vote that will strike a ban on gay Floridians adopting, the bill (HB 7111) by Rep. Jason Brodeur, R-Sanford, creates a “conscience clause,” which says any denial of service based on a written religious or moral conviction is not discrimination.

The final vote was 75-38.

Republican lawmakers, including Rep. Dennis Baxley, Rep. Larry Ahern and Rep. Scott Plakon gave passionate arguments in favor of the bill.

“You may disagree with their beliefs. You may even think that they’re crazy,” said Plakon of religious adoption agencies that could refuse to serve a prospective parent under the bill. “But these are their closely held beliefs.”

Ahern said he violated his conscience by supporting the broad adoption bill that, among other provisions, struck down a ban on gay parents adopting. He said he didn’t wear his House lapel pin Thursday because of that regret.

“Yesterday, I kept hearing all these things about adults’ rights, but what about these children?” Baxley asked. “Don’t they deserve a mom and dad, a family? Can’t we find a way to put that first?”

The bill applies only to private agencies, but opponents have raised concerns because some agencies receive public funds as Community-Based Care facilities.

House Democrats, too, argued passionately against the bill.

“I’m not sure that there aren’t the remnants of homophobia,” said Rep. Darryl Rouson, D-St. Petersburg. “I’m not sure that this guise of religious freedom is in the best interest of foster children.”

Rep. David Richardson, D-Miami Beach, the leading voice this session against the gay adoption ban, shared his story as the Legislature’s only openly gay member.

“I was a young man when that provision was put into law 38 years ago,” he said. “I remember feeling alone, and I remember feeling how the world must hate me … I thought this was going to be a difficult life.”

“This fight is over,” he continued. “If we continue to fight, it will only hurt our great state.”

The measure’s future is unclear, as the Senate on Wednesday took a firm stand in favor of repealing the state’s statutory ban on gay adoptions. But that vote was steeped in inter-chamber politics.

Lawmakers said keeping the ban intact could have been a death sentence for a massive adoption bill (HB 7013) on the joint work plan for leadership in both chambers.

Although a law banning a gay parent from adopting is still on the books, a judge ruled it unconstitutional five years ago.