The decision to give Victorian religious agencies the right to refuse adoption to same-sex couples is a slap in the face to the activists.

It also perpetuates discrimination to same-sex couples.

While legislation to legalise same-sex adoption is giving in one hand, taking from the other is the introduction of religious exception to that same law.

According to Victorian Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby co-convenor Sean Mulcahy, the latest decision fails the equality test, leaving same-sex couples yet another hurdle to jump over.

The state government's same-sex adoption bill passed the upper house 31 to 8 on Thursday night with last-minute amendments allowing religious exemption.

The Liberal Party, Democratic Labor Party MP Rachel Carling-Jenkins and the Shooters and Fishers Party all voted for the exemption. The bill will now return to the lower house.

Despite worldwide moves for same-sex marriages and same-sex adoption rights, there is still a long way to go before true equality.

Equality Minister Martin Foley said on Friday admitted there was still some way to go before same-sex families were granted full equality.

"What we've seen is the Liberal Party put back into the legislation a requirement that will allow organisations that deliver services for the state to discriminate against same-sex families," Mr Foley said.

The Australian Marriage Forum has decried the passage of legislation as a "policy that will hurt children".

The forum's spokesman David van Gend said the laws "deliberately deprive a child of their relationship with a mother or father".

The government has begun talks with same-sex families, relevant stakeholders and organisation to consider the next step. 

But there really is only one “next step” and that would be to give loving (same sex) couples the opportunity to give children a loving and stable home.

Because having a “mother” and a “father” does not always equate to having a loving and stable family environment.