I am a mom who is a member of the Richmond PFLAG chapter (a national organization who supports families of the GLBT community).  My husband and I have been members for 15 years.  All of our families are working hard to help folks be aware of the importance of nondiscrimination for the GLBT community. Our gay son lives in California, where he moved to a place where he does not have to live in Virginia’s more discriminatory atmosphere. He and his partner of 15 years have been able to marry, and now they have been through the regulatory process and are adopting an infant.  This would be nearly impossible if he still lived in Virginia with the changes in the standards for Licensed Child Placing Agencies.  I speak to this as a mother and a grandmother who knows many loving families who are not being allowed to provide much needed homes for children in our state. My husband and I love being grandparents,too.                                                                                                                                                       Also, I know that some faith-based agencies feel that their rights would be infringed upon if this discriminatory regulation were changed. I am a person of faith in the Baptist tradition, and I feel that my families’ rights are infringed upon when we are not allowed to adopt or care for children.  My faith teaches that being loving and supportive, not judgmental, is the essence of life. Please give our families a chance to share our love, too.