Yesterday I did a few legislative updates, and it really struck me while doing them–as if I didn’t already know this–that hardly anyone cares about adult adoptees or adoptee civil rights–especially those who have the “authority” to fix things legally such as policy and lawmakers. When compared to the speed which Safe Haven Baby Box legislation passes, records access for adults, even with the successes of the last couple of years, runs a very poor second.
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2020 Legislative Roundup
National Adoption Awareness Month is winding down, and today is a good time to post a round-up of 2020 legislative action –if you can call it action. In this Year of Covid-19 it is unlikely that any action, other than the slow death by sine die (adjournment of the session without action) will take place on any of the few remaining bills. If something does move, I will amend this later and repost it at the end of the year.
Continue readingMassachusetts: House passes OBC Access for All. On to Senate!
In the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, when all legislation this year seemed lost–the Massachusetts House this morning passed H1892 to restore OBC access to all Massachusetts adoptees. (No vote stats known yet). It now moves to the Senate.
Continue readingBastard Nation Letter to PEI Assembly: Reject Bill No 29
Bill No. 29 clearly holds PEI’s adopted citizens to a greater set of birth record access requirements than the not-adopted who can access their record for the asking, Disclosure and contact vetoes, fines and jails cells all go against best practice adoption standards. These provisions are not only insulting to PEI’s adoptees, but are cruel and ugly. They pathologize adoptees and adoption as social institution. They make adoption and adoptees shameful and suggests to the public that we are dangerous.
Continue readingMontgomery/Weprin Letter to Andew Cuomo regarding A5494/HB3419
New York Senator Velmanette Montgomery and Rep .David Weprin sent this letter to Governor Andrew Cuomo requesting his immediate signing of S5494/HB3419.
Continue readingWe’ve been assured by top officials in New York that there is zero confusion between S3419, our adoptee rights bill, and another bill related to termination of parental rights.
Continue readingNeither Rome nor Albany Are Burning!
The #WeprinMontgomery Bill stands on its own among other bills. It remains a 𝙏𝙊𝙋 priority. We heard feedback like “that’s comparing apples to oranges” followed by laughter. The fact that we even had to address these rumors 𝙞𝙨 laughable and insulting; not just to us but to the legislators themselves. They, and their staff, actually read for comprehension and are aware of what bills are what.
Continue readingWe have always committed to calling it straight. This update just went out by email to our nearly 2,000 supporters, assuring that things are good, despite the naysayers who cannot seem to get over our success
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INCLUDES UPDATES The news is positive but not definitive. We hope to see A5494 move to the floor today or late tonight. At the same time, it appears that the Assembly may stay in town an extra day or two to finish up business, which could include passage of our bill. As with all legislative work, it is unpredictable until the end. But we don’t give out false hope when there’s no hope for passage—nor will be pessimistic and give outsized influence to opponents when that’s also not warranted. There is hope and we will work with that hope today and to the very end.
Continue readingVideo: We Are You!
Millions of us are adopted. We are your family, friends, co-workers, neighbors, and even your legislators. Your birth certificates are yours. Ours are ours. #WeAreYou #AdopteesDemandDemocracy #BringA5494ToTheFloor #GetItRight #MakeItEqual #ThisISPersonal #WeprinMontgomeryBIll
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