Virginia: Bill Allowing Adoption Restrictions Advances

February 10, 2012
New York Times
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

The State Senate passed legislation on Thursday allowing private adoption agencies to deny placements that conflict with their religious or moral beliefs, including opposition to homosexuality. The mostly party-line vote virtually ensures the Republican-backed bill will become law. The House has an identical bill, and Gov. Robert F. McDonnell says he will sign it. Virginia would become the second state with such a law, which supporters modeled after North Dakota’s. Senator Jeffrey L. McWaters said his bill protected the religious rights of private child placement agencies, including dozens that contract with the state. Opponents say agencies that contract with the state should not be allowed to discriminate. Senator Adam Ebbin, the only openly gay member of the General Assembly, said the bill would endanger gay and bisexual children by letting agencies place them with parents opposed to homosexuality.