The Adoption Standards for the State of Virginia should NOT require faith-based adoption agencies to accept same-sex couples or gay or lesbian individuals as adopting parents. It may be reasonable to require this of Government agencies, but not of religious organizations. To do so would restrict their religious freedom by forcing them to comply or to go out of business. Such an action would cause irreparable harm to the religious-based institutions, and deprive the citizens of Virginia of their services, resulting in increased costs of operating government-based adoption agencies. An exception for religious-based organizations, or a "conscience clause" should be added to the standards.