Bastard Nation is greatly disappointed at the death of Texas HB2725, but it had to be done. We were hopeful, but as usual, prepared to do the only ethical thing if the bill was deformed or in grave danger of deformation. We pulled support individually and as a member of TxARC. We have declared the bill dead.
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On April 8, HB2725 came before the House Public Health Committee, More than 17 witnesses, including members of TxARC testified in support, and many more testimonies and letters were submitted to the committee. Only one witness, a lobbyist for the Texas Alliance for Life, testified against. The committee appeared to look favorably on the bill, On April 15, however, the bill was all but killed when the committee refused to vote it out as written. Reviving it with reported restrictive amendments, as was suggested, would have compromised the rights of all Texas adoptees and the integrity and mission of the Texas Adoptee Rights Coalition and Bastard Nation.
The first amendment would have removed the Contact Preference Form (CPF) from the bill. In another place and time we would have happily accepted that change. It was clear, though, by context, that this amendment was aimed at making it easy to add restrictive changes to the squeaky clean bill if it reached the floor. The second amendment would have created a birthparent redaction or withholding mechanism, (probably through the Central Adoption Registry), which does not exist in current Texas law, In detail, that amendment would have
- endangered the current right of OBC access that some Texas adoptees enjoy if they know the names of their birthparents listed on the document;
- created a blacklist of current and future adoptees, denied access to their true OBCs either through a birthparent Disclosure Veto or by redaction.
We have asked the bill’s sponsor, Rep Gina Calanni to drop the measure and let it die officially. Non-coalition supporters agree. Non-coalition group Support Texas Adoptee Rights (STAR), however, has gone dark and made no public or private comment about where they stand on the bill, although they have been asked in private correspondence and in social media by TxARC and others if they endorse support withdrawal or will accept dirty amendments. If you are with STAR or know someone who is, ask if it supports birthparent redaction. It’s time to close the lid on the casket
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It has been a pleasure to work with the bastard patriots of TxArc and friends, Rep Calanni and co-sponsors, our supporters on the Public Health Committee and legislature, and everyone who sent testimony and letters of support. You’re the best. Thank you!
Clearly, Class Bastard is gaining support since opposition, which works behind closed doors, is much more organized than in the past. During the 2015 session, a nearly identical bill passed unanimously out of two committees and passed the House with a vote of 138 to 1. They are scared.
This fight in Texas–and everywhere that denies us our rights–is not over. We declare HB2725 dead and any attempt to revive it with restrictive amendments will be met with vigor. We aren’t finished. TxARC will continue to build relationships with Texas legislators, policymakers, and those in and outside of AdoptionLand and will be back. We will win.
OBC and adoption record access should not be an issue in 2019. Government censorship of our own birth certificates is not acceptable. Please join us in restoring the right of all Texas adoptees to their Original Birth Certificates.
New York Adoptee Rights Coalition
