I support adoption regulations including anti-discrimination protections for prospective parents based on sexual orientation, disability, age, gender, race, color, national origin, political or religious affiliation.

As a lifelong citizen of the Commonwealth of Virginia, I strongly urge our government officials to amend the current legislation and adopt more inclusive language to protect prospective parents based on sexual orientation, disability, age, gender, race, color, national origin, political or religious affiliation, which will end the discriminatory practices of certain private adoption agencies operating in our Commonwealth.  It is shameful that our state (with full knowledge) allows such discrimination and hatred to exist in our society.  The ultimate victims of this discrimination are the children who are denied a caring and loving home.  Any private placement agency that is unwilling or unable to abide by non-discriminatory policies should lose their license immediately.  There are several law abiding agencies that have the resources and capabilities to handle additional capacity should certain private placement agencies cease operations due to changes in the current regulations and this should not deter the Commonwealth from enforcing such expanded anti-discrimination protections for prospective parents.