Democracy for Virginia: Letter to Delegates Black and Marshall: Authors of proposed homophobic change to adoption law

Dear Dels. Marshall and Black,

It has come to our attention that you have introduced legislation in the Virginia House to outlaw adoption by gays and lesbians. As the proud adoptive parents of an eight year old girl my husband and I are frankly astounded at the mean spiritedness of this proposed bill.

Any adoptive parent from the state of Virginia understands that the adoption process as it exists carefully screens applicants for the responsibility of parenthood -- including thorough police background checks and an intensive series of interviews designed to determine the mental and physical qualifications of the applicants. This process, if performed as designed, eliminates the unqualified -- for whatever reason it may be. Your legislation suggests that the very state of being homosexual makes someone unqualified to parent.

It is difficult to imagine anyone with such a close minded point of view as yours. An extremely large number of people in this country are gay. The odds are that someone you know and respect is, unbeknownst to you, gay. There is in fact a high likelihood that someone in your own family is gay. The fact that you would strive to restrict the basic rights of such a huge population is unconscionable.

What possible reason can you have to promote such a hate-filled agenda under the guise of "family values?" This flies in the face of everything a loving and compassionate Jesus teaches Christians. I do often wonder what Jesus would say about the so-called Christians who practice hate in his name. Can it be possible that you would rather see a child floated between foster homes than acquire a permanent loving home with qualified parents?

Rest assured that we will spread the word far and near about this incredibly foul legislation. You may be certain that adoption groups and other interested people will have something to say about this.

Sincerely,

Julia G. Ide and Nicholas C. Ide
1318 Woodside Drive
McLean, VA 22102