I urge the commonwealth to include bans on discrimination based on sexual orientation, political beliefs, age, physical disability and family in its adoption regulations. Cousins on both sides of my family are same-sex parents of adopted children, and these children exited the foster-care system into loving, nurturing homes where they are growing into outstanding young people. We should not limit the opportunity for children who need loving parents to find and be placed with them, no matter the parents' sexual orientation or other criteria.