Hello,

     I just wanted to take a moment to share my thoughts on the proposed Adoption Discrimination Rules. I believe that 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. There is no formula for the "perfect family" and I know from the childhood experiences of many people I have met in my lifetime that a "caucasion, heterosexual, religious, two-parent home" is not always the BEST environment for a child. It depends on the people involved, and the environment they provide. The homes that children need are loving, caring, and supporting, and that can be provided by a range of people and families. 
 

I believe that 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. This should not be the case in ANY state-related cases; employment, housing, school acceptence, adoption, etc. The state should hold a blind eye to the differences among its residents and treat them all with equal rights and respect.
 

Finally, the State Board of Social Services should restore to the final rules the protections against such discrimination included in the proposed rules. I hope that justice prevails in this case, and the best interest of the CHILDREN is what is used to determine the outcome. Thank you for your time.