First and foremost, children need to be in homes where they feel safe and loved. For this to happen, the Commonwealth must NOT discriminate against any parents unless there are questions of safety. Same sex parents do not, in and of themselves, create safety hazards. In fact, they are probably safer than many hetero couples because they are scrutinized to a greater degree. There is less spousal abuse among same-sex couples, a major safety hazard in adoption. Religious beliefs should not be a factor in whether a couple can be successful parents, and others should not foist their religious beliefs on an institution (Social Services) that needs to consider the welfare of children, not outdated understanding about what constitutes a family.