That must have been so frustrating. America's child protection system is so fractured, I'm guessing that at some level, all three of the isms you mentioned (racism, sexism, and ageism) could exist, independently or simultaneously, depending on who ran a specific program.

On a personal level, your experience is credible to me: I know quite a few single women who've fostered or adopted but no men in your age group at all. Thanks so much for your perspective. I'd like to hear from more men in your situation who've been turned down.