What's the big deal about access to birth certificates?
I asked questions of members of the Adoptee Rights Coalition (ARC): Michelle Edmunds, Joy Madsen, Cathy Robishaw, Heather Holmes, Theresa Hood, Dory Martin, Diane Crossfield, and Jimm Mandenberg.
Following is part 2 of the interview.
(Part 1: why access? privacy vs access.)
Some birthmother groups are organized and vocal about also wanting to unseal records. But what about those who do NOT want their pasts reopened, who are NOT organized, who are NOT speaking out to oppose your efforts. Shouldn't their right to privacy -- which they were promised -- be respected?
ARC: A birth-parent was never promised or guaranteed "rights" in the eyes of the law. This is where people get confused.
Some people were told they would see their children when that child turned 18, some were told that they would never see their child again. It was all assumption, and could be based on what a receptionist at a maternity home said to one or a number of women.
Legislation and laws are based on facts not supposition. An individual who is not interested in contact with another individual can express this without government intervention. This how non-adopted citizens manage their personal affairs - adopted persons simply want the same options.
Speaking of contact, what is the connection between an adoptee gaining access to his/her birth certificates and then seeking contact with birthparents? Does the latter naturally follow the former?
ARC: Not in the least.
There are many reasons people want their birth certificates. It’s only with adoptees that people’s motives are questioned. Some want their birth certificates to obtain passports, veterans or social security benefits, or simply to know their original identity at birth. What someone does with their birth certificate is their business. People can and do reunite every day without having access to their birth certificate. This isn’t about reunion; it’s about being viewed and treated as equals in the eyes of the state.
Why should people who have no connection to adoption care about this issue? And if they do care, what can they do in their own state?
ARC: Anyone who believes in equal rights should care about this issue. It’s about the state viewing all residents as equal, or viewing only one class as suspect and in need of special treatment. It’s also about righting a wrong that was done, changing old, outdated laws, and championing dignity for all.
The best anyone can to do to help is to get active with government representatives in your state. On the AdopteeRights.net website there is a list of state groups people can join. Next, people should get to know their local assemblyperson and senator. Find out their view on this issue, and make sure they know what your view is. Don’t be discouraged if at first they respond with urban legends on birth-parent privacy; with time, education and regular communication it is possible to make a positive change.
Comments
one rule for some and one for another over birth certificates (or anything for that matter) is not fair.
Excellent part 2 of the interview, Lori! Thank you for covering this issue!
The liked the part under, "Why people with no connection...should care," that said: It’s about the state viewing all residents as equal, or viewing only one class as suspect and in need of special treatment. It’s also about righting a wrong that was done, changing old, outdated laws, and championing dignity for all."
Well said!
Excellent points. Why a few people claim they were "promised confidentiality" is beyond me. I am an adoptee. My birthmother was happy I found her and said she was bullied and threatened by the Catholic agency handling the adoption. She was told she could be arrested if she ever tried to find me! And yet, when she got nervous, she also assumed, wrongly, that she was promised confidentiality. Sealing records--while WRONG--was done to protect adoptees from stigma, not birthparents from exposure!
My birthmother was never promised confidentiality and she was thrilled when I found her in 1989. But for arguments sake, even if she was told she would have privacy, that does not give her the right to take away my rights to my own information. She has a right to keep her own information private, such as her own personal health record, etc... But when it comes to my legal document of birth, the "birth certificate", sorry, but she was present at my birth and did give birth to me, therefore she must be named on "my" document. My birth certificate is mine and I have every right to it, she does not, her certificates are hers and she can keep them private if she wishes, but please keep out of my documents, they are mine and I am an adult and I will dertermine who can look or not look at "my" birth cetificate. My birth certifiacte does not belong or pertain to her, she has no say.
Excellent. Thank you for your clear explantion of the issue.
Adoptees are NOT blank flesh canvasses of which to paint identities onto.
Everyone should have the right to their own birth certificate.
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