Va. Gov Mulls Nixing Gay Couple Adoption Regs

Republican Gov. Robert McDonnell is considering whether to undo regulations that would allow gay couples to adopt children in Virginia through any state-licensed agency, private or religious. The governor has less than two weeks to act on the regulations developed by his Democratic predecessor, The Washington Post reports.

The regulations would force state-licensed private and religious adoption agencies to allow unmarried heterosexual or homosexual couples to adopt children.

Current state law allows married couples and single men and woman, whether heterosexual or homosexual, to adopt. However, gay singles and unmarried couples do not have access to adoption agencies run by religious groups, the Post reported.

McDonnell’s policy director, Eric Finkbeiner, said that in general the governor “supports and encourages” adoption of children by married couples and single parents. He added McDonnell is considering his options, the Post said.

The Virginia Catholic Conference’s Jeff Caruso said his organization opposes the regulations on the grounds of religious freedom. “Faith-based agencies have certain deeply held convictions,” he said, according to the Post.