This bill that has passed in the House of Delegates and it's companion Senate bill which just moved out of committee does nothing but legalize discrimination.
I wrote a joint letter to my senator, Frank Wagner and my delegate, Chris Stolle. Both of them voted in favor of this bill.
Good morning,
I was extremely disappointed to see how you voted regarding these bills. These bills are nothing short of discriminatory and do absolutely nothing to help the children in foster care desperately waiting for a family. Instead of protecting the least fortunate of the people you are supposed to be looking out for, you have resigned hundreds of children to a bleak life in foster care, only to age out of the system and be left in the world with no one to stand behind them. Meanwhile, thousands of co-habitating straight and gay parents are willing, ready and able to adopt foster children and provide them with stable, loving, safe homes.
It's really unfortunate that you didn't take the time to talk to the thousands of Virginia children that have aged out of foster care. The very children that are and will continue to be impacted by this bill that takes Virginia a step backwards towards the Dark Ages. The very children that say that they don't care whether they had an unmarried mom & dad or two moms or two dads as long as they had parents that loved and protected them.
Again, I am deeply disappointed that you let your religious views cloud your judgement on what is best for your constituents. In the future, please keep your religion out of my government.
For all of my hard work I was rewarded with a forwarded form letter from Senator Wagner's office and nothing from Delegate Stolle's office.
Dear Friend:
Thank you for contacting Senator Wagner’s office regarding your concerns in opposition to SB 349.
It is very important to Senator Wagner to know how the citizens of the 7th District and the Commonwealth of Virginia feel about current issues. We appreciate your making time in your schedule to take an active role in participatory government.
You can follow this and other legislation on the Virginia General Assembly website at http://legis.state.va.us/ On the left side of the screen type in the bill number you are interested in and you can see where in the legislative process the bill is, if there have been votes on the bill, and how the legislators voted, with the exception of sub-committee votes.
Again, we would like to thank you for taking time to pass on your concerns.
Kindest regards,
Vicki Wilson, Legislative Aide
Senator Frank Wagner’s Office
7th District – Senate of Virginia
Virginia Beach / Norfolk
757-671-2250 – Hampton Roads Office
804-698-7507 – Richmond Office
When she sent this to me, she didn't even bother removing the multiple signature blocks that get added when you forward something. Needless to say, I felt slighted. So I followed up with an email today.
Good Morning Vicki,
I appreciate that you took the time to read and reply to my email but was hoping for a response particular to this bill. Whatever Sen. Wagner's opinions are on social issues, this bill goes FAR beyond "protecting religious freedom." In fact, it doesn't protect religious freedom at all. It does nothing but discriminate. It would allow agencies, that are supposed to serve children, to put the very needs of those children in the background while the agency discriminates against divorced people, unmarried gay and straight couples, religious couples or any other reason that an agency tries to make up (family goes to wrong church, doesn't go church often enough, not the right denomination, etc.).
A family, of any make-up, that is willing, able and ready to provide a safe, stable and loving home through a foster care adoption should be admired and welcomed by any agency, not discriminated against by an agency or governing body at any level of government.
Just to clarify, this bill does not merely discriminate against gay people. It discriminates against any unmarried couple, inter-racial couples, inter-faith couples and really, anything that any agency decides is unacceptable to them. A deaf/blind foster child in need of a family being placed by a Christian agency can lose the the most perfect family because the agency can discriminate against the family for being Muslim or Jewish or Buddhist or not going to church often enough or not being religious enough.
Want to get involved: http://legis.state.va.us/ and find your delegate and senator and let them know that you are opposed to SB 349!
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