I am writing to request that The Board of Social Services prohibit state-licensed child placing agencies from discriminating based on race, national origin, ethnicity, gender, age, religion, political beliefs, sexual orientation, disability and family status in providing services to children and prospective foster care and adoptive parents.

Please restore the protections against this discrimination to the final rules. The best interests of the child should be the SOLE factor in deciding whether a child should be placed with a foster or adoptive parent or parents.

There is NO credible evidence from reputable, peer-reviewed, scientific research that children raised by gay or lesbian parents suffer any disadvantages. In fact, 30 years of scientific research and nearly every major  child welfare organization confirm that children raised in gay and lesbian households have EXACTLY the same opportunities and chances to lead healthy and fulfilling lives as every other child living in a heterosexual household.

State-licensed child placement agencies should not be allowed to discriminate against children or prospective parents as this discrimination limits the already small pool of foster and adoptive parents available to children who need and deserve a loving, committed home. Limiting the pool of prospective adoptive parents adds more burden to the state/county/city who have custody of the children in foster care. Think of the children's needs above that of an agencies desire to discriminate.