Bastard Nation is happy to announce that it has entered into a partnership with Michigan Open Access , the only authentic no-compromise adoptee-led organization dedicated to adoptee equality in the State of Michigan. It joins BN partners CalOpen, Indiana Open Access, Missouri Open, and Open Adoption Records Quebec.
Michigan Open Access advocates for the restoration of human and civil rights of Michigan adult citizens denied by law from having access to personal records pertaining to their historical, genetic and legal identities, because they were adopted as children. It seeks to restore the dignity of adult adoptees by eliminating the government’s imposed management of adult adoptees relationships resulting from sealed records.
Michigan Open Records is led by Marcy Portney and Mona Divitto Brant.
We asked them to tell us, in their own words, a little bit about themselves and their goals for Michigan Open Access.
Marcy Portney: Born 1963, Detroit, Michigan at Florence Crittenton Hospital. Adopted as an infant. Lived in metro Detroit area entire life.
Wonderful adoptive parents, family and life.
Mona Divitto Brant: I was relinquished through Wayne County Catholic Social Services in 1965. I have spent a lot of money and years searching to find my biological heritage, including the most powerless route of petitioning our courts and being appointed a Confidential Intermediary. I have utilized DNA as well and have finally completed my search. My fight is for each and every one of us adoptees to have total open access to our birth certificates in Michigan as well as to set a precedent for the entire United States, that we will not settle,and No One will be left behind!
New York Adoptee Rights Coalition
Currently the NY legislature is recessed. But the Assembly did pass a very bad version of a bill: A2901c. The Senate reconvenes in January and will vote on their (bad) version S5964b. We call this bill “Tarnished Silver” named for the former Speaker, Sheldon Silver. He and the Senate leader, Dean Skelos, were each convicted and sentenced to jail for using their offices for personal gain.
I was adopted in 1962? I have served this great nation as a soldier….going to war …..later as a Police Officer……I am angry that someone else can hold onto a file about me…..know more than me about my family….deny me the right to know my mother or father or to pray at their grave……the whole secrecy thing….is so Un-American……it reeks of Nazi-ism and socialism….I wonder if there are any friendly judges in Detroit ….that would listen to a petition……
I could use some help. Michigan is doing the same with me. Mine was a STEP PARENT ADOPTION with NO HIDDEN INFORMATION. Yet they won’t release the records. Even the court records. I could use a Senators Help.