Bastard Nation: the Adoptee Rights Organization
bastards.org 614-372-5535 @BastardsUnite
April 22, 2019
RE: Please Vote No on SF621: Adoptee right to Original Birth Certificate (OBC)
Bastard Nation: the Adoptee Rights Organization is the largest adoptee civil rights organization in the United States. We support only full unrestricted access for all adopted persons, to their original birth certificates (OBC) and related documents.
We write today to ask you to Vote No on SF621,
Bastard Nation gave full support to SF621 until late last week when proponents announced that they were willing to accept a reported amendment that would restrict OBC access. Specifically, an amendment that authorizes the government—upon request of a birthparent– to censor the OBC by redacting identifying information from the document before it is released to the adoptee. This is a special right that no third party in Iowa, including parents, otherwise, possess.
Proponents of the amendment like to say that redacted/restricted OBC access will affect “only a few.” If only one person is denied access, however, the right to OBC access in Iowa is gutted. No right exists; instead, there is only state favor. Any redaction/restriction creates a dual standard of legal treatment for everyone born in Iowa. Full access for the not adopted and for adoptees with birthparents who do not object and limited/restricted/no access for adoptees whose birthparents object.
In the decades of the battle for the restoration of adoptee rights in the US, not one state that has granted restricted access has ever come back to pick up the left behinds.
We understand that a majority of the Senate supports the clean version of SF621, so it is clear that you understand the issue. We thank you for that, As activists, though, we understand that it is also important to know when to fold ‘em. Many times we have been forced to pull our own bills and drop support for the bills of others (such as this bill) when things go bad.
We ask you, therefore, to join us in supporting all Iowa adoptees, not just some.
Vote No on any amendment that redacts/restricts OBC release. Vote No on any bill that contains redaction/restricted language.
We believe that Iowa is on the cusp of restoring the full rights of all its adoptees with a clean bill passing in the near future. Current concerns should be set aside for this session, and problems sorted out in the next.
Iowa adoptees deserve same treatment under law as the not adopted. Please Vote No on any amendment or bill that denies us.
Thank you!
Marley E. Greiner
Executive Chair
New York Adoptee Rights Coalition
Thank you, Marley!