White House Criticizes Virginia Anti-Gay Adoption Bill

In a rare display of commentary on a state law issue, the White House criticized the anti-gay adoption bill being pushed through the Virginia General Assembly that will specifically allow adoption agencies receiving state funds to discriminate against gays and others that the agencies dislike due to religious based bigotry. The bill is an embarrassment to the Commonwealth but is in keeping with the Neanderthal and Christofascist mindset that now is the norm in the Republican Party of Virginia which, if it could, would reintroduce the Jim Crow laws. The whims and hatreds of the extremists at The Family Foundation are more important than the guiding principles of the U. S. Constitution. Here are highlights from the Washington Blade:

The White House, in response to a Washington Blade inquiry about anti-gay adoption legislation moving through the Virginia Legislature, said Monday night President Obama believes adoption placement shouldn’t be “based on discriminatory and irrelevant factors.”

“While the president does not weigh in on every single action taken by legislative bodies in our country, he has long believed that we must ensure adoption rights for all couples and individuals based on their interest in offering a loving home, not based on discriminatory and irrelevant factors,” said Shin Inouye, a White House spokesperson. “He recognizes that adoptive families come in many forms, and that we must do all we can to break down barriers to ensure that all qualified caregivers have the ability to serve as adoptive families.”

Legislation is moving through the Republican-controlled Virginia Legislature that would allow private adoption agencies to discriminate in placements conflicting with their religious or moral beliefs, including on the basis of sexual orientation. The Virginia House voted last week 71-28 to pass the bill and the Senate is likely to vote on it in the coming days. Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) is expected to sign the bill should it reach his desk.

[A] McDonnell spokesperson, reaffirmed via email in response to the White House statement that the governor supports the adoption legislation because it allows faith-based agencies to place children in homes in accordance with their beliefs.

Federal legislation pending before Congress known as the Every Child Deserves a Family Act would trump the pending anti-gay bill in Virginia by allowing the U.S government to restrict federal funds from going to states that have laws or practices allowing for discrimination in adoption on the basis of LGBT status.

Don't look for Virginia to move into the 21st century until the power of the haters at The Family Foundation is broken.