Members of the Board,

My name is Nathalie Hernandez, heterosexual, married and mother of one boy. I live in Arlington Virginia and I am a registered voter.

I urge you to put children first by having the courage to follow common sense (not the strategical political one) and prohibit discrimination against ANY potential foster care parent based on race, ethnicity, gender or even sexual orientation. The American foster system is already bad don't make it worse. Any child can turn wrong regardless if he has been fostered or not. You are depriving over 1,000 children in Virginia from even getting a chance to experience a loving family by refusing a chance to willing and perfectly able potential foster parents. I have heard too many stories about individuals having a foster child because they think it replaces the income of having a job.  Please have some courage and give love a chance.

LAWS CAN BE CHANGED ANYWAY. SO GIVE IT A TRY