SB64 should have passed the House. The bill was a shoo-in. It had no organized opposition. Even traditional opponents agreed to remain neutral. The bill zipped through the Senate and the House Judiciary Committee unanimously. But then something happened. A small group of politicians found the right of their own state’s adopted people to obtain their own Original Birth Certificates “troublesome.” and “problematic,” or something worse. I don’t know their objections (I can guess) or who they are, though it is likely that House Speaker Jon Burns was among them. Did at least some of them have “a little something” to hide? Whatever was going on, they decided to keep Class Bastard Georgia in line. If SB64 isn’t heard and doesn’t exist on the agenda then adoptees don’t.
Continue readingMonth: March 2023
California AB1302: 2nd Bastard Nation Letter of Opposition
I really have no idea what the purpose of this bill is or why it has been brought forward, but it is clearly adopteephobic, discriminatory, and frankly bigoted– and it clearly was written with no adoptee input. It has no support from any adoptee rights, adoption reform, or child welfare organization in the country. If this bill were about any other marginalized group and written without any input from them–African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, Asians, women, queers, trans, Jews, Muslims, disabled, it would never see the light of day.
Continue readingCalifornia AB1302: Already restrictive adds more restrictions and massive burreaucracy. Act Now!
In other words, in order to protect the “privacy” (don’t they mean anonymity?) of biological parents from their own offspring, the State of California, upon receipt of an adoptee request for their OBC, would send to the parents at “the best available address” a Registered or Certified letter with restricted receipt requiring a signature, enclosing a notice of the request and a birthparent permission slip. A “reminder notice” will be sent 150 days later, if the original letter generates no response.
Continue readingMinnesota SF1279 Moves Along!
Yesterday Minnesota SF1279 was voted favorable out of the Senate Judiciary and Public Health Committee. We thought the bill would be held over until 2024, but due to the vagaries of legislation, it was suddently put on the agenda. Bastards are on a roll!
Continue readingAction Alert: California AB1302: Beware the Trojan Horse!
This seemingly innocuous one-page bill is all dressed up as a pretty gift horse to give adults, who were adopted as a child, the right to their original birth certificate through a court petition and order. Look that gift horse in the mouth…
Continue readingCalifornia AB1302. Bastard Nation Letter of Opposition. Reactionary and Old School
The California House Judiciary Committee is set to hold a hearing on AB1302 on March 21.. This is a terrible reactionary bill,that includes biological parent redactions and maintains a complicated court procedure to obtain OBCs. California is the crown jewel. Passage of this bill would not only mean a defeat for the adopted people and the adoptee rights movement but probably make access worse in the state than it is now. It would be impossible to revisit for years.
Continue readingGeorgia SB64: One Step Closer
Tuesday the Georgia House Judiciary Committee voted DO PASS on SB64, a bill that will restore full unhindered access to the OBCs of Georgia-born adoptees. Now on to the House!
Continue readingGeorgia SB64: Another Step To Victory. Passes Senate 54-0!
Yesterday the Georgia Senate passed SB64 by a whopping 54-0. The bill now goes to the House.
Continue readingBastard Nation Letter of Opposition to West Virginia SB470. VOTE DO NOT PASS!
We urge you to reject SB470 a bill that seriously restricts the right of West Virginia-born adoptees to obtain their Original Birth Certificates. The bill appears to have been written without the input of adopted persons and passed in the Senate without at least one public hearing.
The bill, pertains only to OBCs and not adoption files. It redacts by default, all identifying information on the birth record, unless a biological parent specifically authorizes the release of the document with that information via submission of consent forms to the Department of Health.
In effect, this means that barely anyone would qualify for a true copy of their OBC.
Continue readingEmergency Action Alert: West Virginia SB470. Kill the bill. Reactionary & Adopteephobic
CONTACT WEST VIRGINIA LAWMAKERS TODAY! The West Virginia legislature is attempting to sneak through SB470, a reactionary and adopteephobic “OBC/adoptee rights bill” that would (1) By default, redact all Original Birth Certificates of identifying information unless a biological parent specifically authorizes the release of the document via submission of consent forms to the Department of Health and (2) Require adoptees to have a high school diploma, GED or have withdrawn “officially” from school to receive the document in any form–redacted or unredacted.
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