Virginia's social services board is set to take up proposed regulations that would allow gay couples to adopt children in the state for the first time.
Social Services Commissioner Martin Brown has asked the state Board of Social Services to remove part of the proposed regulation that would ban private adoption services from discriminating based on sexual orientation, among other things.
The board is scheduled to vote on the regulations on Wednesday.
Virginia allows adoption now only by married couples and singles, regardless of sexual orientation.
But it does not allow unmarried couples to adopt.
Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli said last week that the board lacks the legal authority to allow same-sex couples to adopt.
Civil rights groups argue gay couples shouldn't be forced to leave the state to adopt.
