Please restore the rules that 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. 

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.   Further, state-licensed child placing agencies should not be allowed to discriminate --period.  Many well-adjusted, productive citizens were raised by parents who happen to be gay or have a disability.     It is wrong to prevent adoptions in loving healthy families. 

I urge the  State Board of Social Services to restore  to the final rules the protections against such discrimination included in the proposed rules.

Thank you for your consideration.