Gov. Terry McAuliffe on Friday announced gay couples can now adopt in Virginia.
The McAuliffe administration noted the legalization of same-sex marriage in the commonwealth on Monday in a bulletin to the Virginia Department of Social Services.
“Now that same-sex marriage in Virginia is officially legal, we owe it to all Virginians to ensure that every couple is treated equally under all of our laws, no matter whom they love,” said McAuliffe in a press release that announced the bulletin. “This historic decision opened the door to marriage equality, and now it is my sincerest hope that it will also open more doors for Virginia children who need loving families.”
Gabriel Blau, executive director of the Family Equality Council, described the announcement as “terrific news.”
“We’re really happy that the governor has taken this stance,” he told the Blade during a telephone interview.
Blau nevertheless noted that private adoption and foster care agencies under Virginia’s so-called “conscience clause” law can still reject prospective parents based on religious or moral beliefs.
“For our families of course Virginia is still problematic,” he told the Blade.
Read the full article by Michael K. Lavers at http://www.washingtonblade.com/2014/10/10/mcauliffe-sex-adoption-now-legal-va/