I implore the agency to consider that banning discrimination against LGBT parents furthers the best interests of the child.  Furthermore, allowing discrimination is a slap in the face to thousands of LGBT Virginians who have raised and are currently raising wonderful children.       

There is no evidence that such discrimination is beneficial to the child.  Research consistently shows that LGBT parents can and do provide loving, supportive homes for children, and it would be a crime if even one child were denied the security of such a home because the state allowed the discrimination to occur.