Dear Committee,

I'm a small business owner in Reston and a married mother of one with a great husband and a great son. I love living here in Virginia. I believe that State-licensed child placing agencies should not be allowed to discriminate against children or prospective parents based on race, national origin, ethnicity, gender, age, religion, political beliefs, sexual orientation, disability and family status.

 While I have my own political and religious views, I embrace the fact that not everyone shares my views. Families are made up of different people from diverse backgrounds and my son is fortunate to grow up in an area with children from all over the world and from different backgrounds. The best interests of the child should be the sole factor in deciding whether a child should be placed with a prospective foster care or adoptive parent or parents.

Virginia is a great state, a place where you can enjoy mountains, the ocean, the country and the city, and it is a great place to raise children. It is a place where kids can be kids. If a family (regardless of sexual orientation, race, religion, gender etc.) is able to provide for a child and raise them in a loving and safe home in our fine state, they have my full support.