The Virginia Board of Social Services on Wednesday rejected proposed regulations that would bar discrimination based on sexual orientation in the adoption process.
The rules had been moving through the state regulatory process since 2009, but drew recent fire from opponents, who argued that they would infringe upon the religious liberties of faith-based adoption agencies.
Under existing Virginia law, married couples and single people, gay or straight, can adopt, but unmarried couples cannot.
The gay rights groups Equality Virginia and the Human Rights Campaign condemned the board’s decision.
“It is a sad day, indeed, when public servants charged with upholding the Constitution and serving the best interests of Virginia’s children put those obligations aside because of political pressure or fear,” said James Parrish, executive director of Equality Virginia. “We need to change the law so that Virginia’s children in foster care and waiting for adoption are not denied the opportunity to have a loving home and two parents to care for them based on factors, such as the sexual orientation of the prospective parents, which have nothing to do with the children’s best interests.”
Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli had advised the board that it lacked the authority to approve the protections based on sexual orientation. Gov. Bob McDonnell also said he opposed the provision.
