Bastard Nation is a co-founder and member of the New York Adoptee Rights Coalition. We support the Avella Bill ( S5169)
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February 2, 2018 By New York Adoptee Rights Coalition
New York Adoptee Equality (NYAE) informed us this morning that they have left the coalition. Genuine and meaningful coalition work is extremely difficult. It involves multiple strong opinions and positions of organizations that have often disagreed on various issues and strategies over time. Nevertheless, true coalitions always have one unifying objective, and NYARC’s objective has been crystal clear from the beginning: restore the right of all New York adoptees to request and obtain their original birth certificates, without conditions or restrictions.
All the member organizations signed a commitment to that goal before joining, including NYAE. Most recently, we worked together to draft and approve a statement of positions on all then-pending New York adoptee rights bills. NYAE specifically agreed to those positions and statements; however, we understand now that NYAE’s opinion on these positions has changed and that they feel it is necessary to withdraw. We wish NYAE well as it moves forward on its own path.
The four New York and national core organizations of the coalition continue to work together on the legislative and public work of fighting for adoptee rights, as do New York adoptees and allies who support us. That work continues, and we also look forward to expanding our supporters and strategic partners, such as Reclaim the Records, who joined us this past week.
If you have any questions about NYARC positions, strategy, or work, please contact us directly at coalition@nyadopteerights.org. We anticipate no further statements about NYAE’s resignation from the coalition. Our work simply continues, and it continues not through one single member but through a coalition of organizations that have committed collectively to a single goal: equality for all adoptees.
Annette O’Connell and Barbara Fuller
New York Adoptees and Co-Spokespersons for NYARC
New York Adoptee Rights Coalition
