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I strongly urge you to reject any proposal to discriminate again faith based child placement agencies.
Faith-based child placement agencies have a right, under federal and state law, to make decisions that are consistent with their religious beliefs, including their beliefs about marriage and family life. This right must be respected and preserved. Also, private adoption agencies are deserving of the ability to screen adoptive parents based on the agency’s beliefs or the beliefs of their birth mothers.
Adoption is meant to imitate the natural family - a mom and a dad. Birthmoms should be allowed the freedom to choose an adoptive family that share her convictions.
Forcing agencies and individuals to choose between following their own values or following the proposed discriminatory regulation would be an unprecedented violation of religious freedom in Virginia. Religious liberty is foundational to our Commonwealth and our country.