I am very disturbed by the VA Social Services proposal to pass minimum standards for child-placing agencies.  Please do not pass something that would force Virginians to go against their consciences - or else cease providing their good services.  

I’m specifically referring to the following bolded language from 22VAC40-131-170:

B.    The licensee shall prohibit acts of discrimination based on race, color, gender, national origin, age, religion, political beliefs, sexual orientation, disability, or family status to:

1.  Delay or deny a child’s placement; or

2.  Deny an individual the opportunity to apply to become a foster or adoptive parent.

To force someone to go against their faith and morals is simply wrong.  Homosexual behavior is against the moral and the natural law.  Thus, for those who know that, placing a child with a couple who practices homosexual behavior  would be immoral.  The state should not be forcing their values on anyone, which would be the result if this proposal passes.  This proposal would force many agencies to cease provide child-placing services for reasons of conscience, resulting in a lack of these services, which would ultimately harm the children.

Who we really serve here are the children.  They are the ones placed in our care.  Studies have shown that children raised by couples with homosexual tendencies fare worse than those in stable families with a male-female couple.  See this article for more information: http://downloads.frc.org/EF/EF08L45.pdf

To deny a private agency’s right to choose who they would place their children with is wrong.  Couples have a right to choose the agency they would like to go through to try to adopt, and thus agencies have a right to choose who is eligible to adopt the child placed in their care - at times by the child’s biological mother!  

Harm is more than just physical - it can be psychological and spiritual, as well.