Friday, January 25, 2008

NEW YORK: Letter--Regarding Jennifer Gish's Jan. 13 Article, "Opening Closed Books on Adoption"


ALBANY TIMES-UNION
January 25, 2008



Bill Benefits Adoptees and Their Parents
Letter by Joyce Bahr


Regarding Jennifer Gish's Jan. 13 article, "Opening closed books on adoption":

This issue is about adult adoptees who are being denied civil rights. Although some adoptees will not seek out birth/natural families until their adoptive parents are deceased or until they are older, some will want to know when they are 18 and they should have the right. Surrender papers are what women like myself, Sylvia Ackerson and many other mothers who surrendered to adoption signed. We are well aware we signed surrender papers terminating our parental rights, which contain nothing about confidentiality.

I, like other mothers who surrendered to adoption, and adoptive parents who are not adopted, have our original birth certificates and know our identity -- unlike adoptees. This is about adult adoptees and their rights.

There are some myths being perpetuated by some in state government that natural parents are shocked when contacted by adoptees and that the registry protects those who do not wish to be found. Neither of these hold true in today's world. I believe most New Yorkers would agree the law is slow to catch up with the changing times of society.

The New York Bill of Adoptee Rights is a good bill giving all adult adoptees access to a copy of their original birth certificate and updated medical histories at age 18. It gives birth/natural parents the option of filing a contact preference meaning they want contact, they want contact but only through an intermediary, or they do not want contact.

JOYCE BAHR

President New York Statewide Adoption Reform

http://www.unsealedinitiative.org




Link to article

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