All children want and need a loving home.  In situations where the birth parents are not willing or able to provide this, a civilized society provides for children's well-being to the best of its ability.  Child welfare agencies should consider only the best interests of the child when making a placement decision.

Three decades of research proves that children raised by gay and lesbian parents have the same advantages and opportunities as children raised by straight parents.  The thousands of children in Virginia's foster care system should be afforded every opportunity to to be adopted into a loving family, regardless of the parents' sexual orientation.

I urge you to included anti-discrimination language in Virginia's adoption and foster care policies.