Arlington resident Greg Greeley adopted his son Coaliyo in Ukraine nearly ten years ago.

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"As a single gay man, my choice was adoption," he said.

He said he tried first to adopt in Virginia, but the local agencies steered him overseas because of his sexual orientation.

But now the odds are getting better for people like Greeley. Under a proposed rule, Virginia-state licensed adoption agencies would be prohibited from denying applicants based on their sexual orientation.

Virginia Delegate Bob Marshall is fighting the rule. "I think those agencies should sue the government," he said via Skype.

Marshall said the change is an intrusion because it forces faith-based adoption agencies to act against their moral foundation.

The rule does not override current Virginia law, which bans both gay and straight unmarried couples from adopting. However, it protects single gay people who want to adopt from being discriminated against.

Donna Davis adopted her daughter in Virginia, and she supports the rule. Any loving person should be able to adopt after thorough background checks, she said.

Greeley said he hopes the proposed change will make it easier for him to adopt a child from closer to home someday. "Coaliyo is my one boy now," he said. "I would like to adopt more."