(Montpelier, Vermont) Vermont has become the first state in the US to actively seek gay and lesbian couples to become adoptive parents.

The agency of Social and Rehabilitation Services said Tuesday that it has more children in the system than there are prospective 'traditional' families to adopt them.

For the first time it is turning to gay and lesbian couples launching a special appeal to same-sex families.

Officials at SRS believe same-sex couples are particularly good at parenting children who've been in the system, all of whom are considered "special needs" children.

The agency points to Cheri Goldstein and Holly Purdue who are already adoptive parents.

In an interview with a Burlington television station the women said that their kids know they have a different kind of family, but that it's a good one.

"They also know that different doesn't mean wrong or bad, that you can be proud of being different, proud of the diversity in your family," Goldstein said.