Stakeholders in a proposed new regulation allowing same-sex couples to adopt children in Virginia are waiting on the State Board of Social Services to make a decision Wednesday afternoon.
The nine-member board is considering whether to require faith-based adoption agencies to allow gay singles and unmarried couples to access their services. When former Gov. Tim Kaine, A Democrat, proposed the change shortly before he left office in 2009, agencies were prohibited from discriminating based only on race, color and national origin.
Gov. Robert F. McDonnell and Attorney General Kenneth Cuccinelli, Republicans, oppose the new regulations, which would add sexual orientation and religion to the protected status list, along with gender, age, political beliefs, disability and family status.
Mr. Cuccinelli issued a memo last week stating the changes contradict state law.
“This proposed language does not comport with applicable state law and public policy,” he wrote. “Therefore the state board lacks the authority to adopt this proposed language.”
• Paige Winfield Cunningham can be reached at pcunningham@washingtontimes.com.
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