Virginia Votes To Continue Discrimination In Adoption Cases

This week Virginia’s Board of Social Services voted to continue a policy that allows faith-based groups and adoption agencies to screen prospective parents on religious or moral beliefs. Discrimination based on national origin, race and color is already forbidden, and the proposed regulations would have added protections for sexual orientation, gender, age, religion, political beliefs, disability and family status. Joe Solmonese, president of the Human Rights Campaign, responded, “Today, the State Board of Social Services told the 1,300 children already waiting for a loving, forever home that they’ll have to wait longer.”