Virginia Regulatory Town Hall
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10/9/11  2:54 am
Commenter: Lorinda Adams

Do not allow organizations to dismiss parental candidates simply on that organization's preference!
 

The original language for this bill was set "to prohibit acts of discrimination based on race, color, gender, national origin, age, religion, political beliefs, sexual orientation, disability, or family status." It is VITAL that you return these planned protections to its wording. As it stands, this bill doesn't just allow organizations running STATE adoptions to leave empty holes in the hearts of people who would love to adopt a kid--it lets organizations refuse children the chance to be welcomed into a solid loving home simply because they feel it's more important that those doing the adopting be a legally wedded able-bodied (sighted, hearing) cisgendered man and woman of the "appropriate" age, religion, and political beliefs. 

 
I understand that screening processes are important. Children are not helped by sending them from one tumultuous situation to an unstable home. However, these processes need to take into account a wide variety of variables. Both this process and the potential pool of homes for children are weakened by allowing organizations running state adoptions to dismiss candidates out of hand because of an organizational preference. Do not leave organizations contracting STATE adoptions the power to say to the children in Virginia's adoption system "Sorry, it doesn't matter how well prepared they are or how much they want to welcome you into their homes. The fact that they are (republican/democrat/deaf/catholic/pro-choice/buddhist/jewish/pagan/56/unmarried/use a wheelchair/liberal/gay/conservative/blind/already have a kid) is more important than your need for a family."
CommentID: 20111