Virginia: Sorry, No Gay Adoption Here

Virginia's Board of Social Services voted late yesterday against a measure that could have let gay couples adopt children in the state. The board voted 7 to 2 to continue to allow faith-based organizations to screen prospective parents' religious and moral beliefs. Currently, discrimation based on national origin, race, and color is banned; the rejected overhaul would have additionally banned discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender, age, religion, political beliefs, disability, and family status.

Currently, only married couples or single men and women can adopt in Virginia, and there is some disagreement over whether the proposed overhaul would have actually allowed unmarried couples to adopt, the Washington Post reports. Even so, the president of a national gay-rights organization said, “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." (More gay adoption stories.)