Bill to give adult adoptees access to their birth certificate advances

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5 responses to “Bill to give adult adoptees access to their birth certificate advances”

1. EveT

   April 18, 2014

   The “stigma” of being born out of wedlock went out along with garter belts and seamed stockings. This is the 21st century, folks. Adopted adults have a right to the documents of their birth. Pass the bill. Open the records.

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2. Oldtimer

   April 18, 2014

   As an adult adoptee myself, I agree that the biological mothers made a very difficult decision relying on the guarantee of law at the time that the records would be sealed and could only be opened by court order under very unusual circumstances. To wipe out that guarantee now and allow adoptees easy access to previously sealed records would be an injustice for the biological parents. A law that would eliminate the guarantee of privacy for future biological parents making the decision to give up a child for adoption would have several effects, most bad, some not so bad, but few real benefits. If Rep Alexander really wants to find out about his biological family, it can be done (I did it) under present law, but there is no good reason to make it too easy.

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3. Marjorie M

   April 18, 2014

   I have very strong feelings about allowing an adopted child/adult access to birth parents. It is important to be able to access medical information for present or future use. The stigma of an unmarried woman no longer matters. Parents should put the needs of a child ahead of their own self interests even if the child was given away.

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4. Oldtimer

   April 18, 2014

   Present little known law allows for a biological parent to deliver a child to certain safe places, without giving ay identifying information. (firehouses, for example). Historically, it has been recognized that a frightened unwed mother needs to be able to put a baby in a place where adoption can happen and she can stay as private and secret as she wants, knowing that, without her secret being protected, many will make terrible decisions. While far from perfect, protecting the mothers is in the best interests of the infant.

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5. LIsa

   May 1, 2014

   I agree old timer. Adoption and the child having a life starts with a decision a birthparent makes. There has to be options that are right for her. We created safe haven laws so the child stays protected giving the mother who is so distraught privacy so she does the right thing. However, a women who does the right thing seeks the help of an adoption agency will not have privacy. Some of them are equally distraught but do the right thing. They get punished for choosing life. Our country has gone insane, women are protected if they have an abortion which means no potential life to be an adoptee, women who are so distraught in denial do not get medical help have a child in a bathroom stall she gets privacy but the women who uses an adoption agency gives the child the not only a chance at life but a healthier better chance at life is not allowed to choose privacy. Something is wrong. Women can’t go to other states that protect privacy because so many states are changing the law. Any women choosing adoption today should be well aware of what is going on. If the law changes it means what ever you sign up for today, that law can also change in 20 years. Vetoes, no contacts can be taken away. You just may find 20 years from now you may be required to pay child support or sued to pay for college. You don’t know how the law can change. There are many women who signed up for adoption with privacy who never thought years later that privacy would be taken away. Only 11% of adoptees requested birth certificates in Oregon, 2.5% in Ill, less than 800 in RI. The law will take choices away from women, a law that may prevent a child the opportunity of life for a few adoptees who want a birth certificate. Open semi open and closed best choices for adoption. I’m pro choice, women should be able to choose what is right for them however a women who would choose adoption and give a child a chance at life instead of abortion in today’s society is a hero and if closed adoption provides that she should be able to have that option. Women’s rights groups fought for abortion rights. They should be fighting for all reproductive rights for women. A life without a birth certificate is better than no life at all.

   Our country values abortion not adoption. We should be making adoption easier not harder. Women don’t choose adoption, the law can change you don’t know what you are getting into.

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