From the Washington Post:

Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli II has advised a state board that it cannot impose new regulations that some argue would for the first time allow gay couples to adopt children in Virginia.

Cuccinelli’s office said in a memo dated Tuesday that the proposal to be considered by the State Board of Social Services as early as next week “does not comport with applicable state law and public policy.”

“Therefore the State Board lacks the authority to adopt this proposed language,’’ wrote Allen Wilson, senior assistant attorney general.

... “It was a correct decision in my judgment,’’ [Del. Robert G. Marshall] said. “The General Assembly has not made sexual orientation a protected class. This will be welcome news to a lot of faith- based adoption agencies.”