Currently, rules for adoption in Virginia protect against discrimination regardless of race, ethnicity and national origin. I support reform of this anti-discrimination policy to also include protection for prospective adoptive parents regardless of sexual orientation, gender, age, religion, and political afilliation. There are thousands of potentially wonderful parents who need this protection against discrimination. Equally important, there are thousands of chidren in the foster care system in Virginia who need the opportunity to have loving and stable, forever homes. Please reform the adoption rules in Virginia to increase these opportunities for thousands of parents and children!
The best interests of the child should be the sole factor in deciding whether a child should be placed with a prospective foster care or adoptive parent or parents
State-licensed child placing agencies should not be allowed to discriminate against children or prospective parents based on race, national origin, ethnicity, gender, age, religion, political beliefs, sexual orientation, disability and family status
The State Board of Social Services should restore to the final rules the protections against such discrimination included in the proposed rules.
