This is a HOT Topic, because currently in several states, it is a topic at their legislatures. Just last week, RAP artist Run DMC spoke at the NJ Senate Committee on adult adoptee right to the original birth certificate. Also within the past couple of months, the Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute issued their report on adult adoptees having access to their original birth certificates.
Well here in North Carolina, the NC Coalition for Adoption Reform, has not given up either on obtaining this right for adult adoptees here. There is currently a House Select Committee on Adoptee Birth Certificates which Speaker Hackney has allowed, and they held its first meeting yesterday at the Legislative Office Building. Yesterday's meeting was full of information on the history of adoption law in NC. Many great questions were raised as a result which have yet to be answered. There were organizations which are not in favor of allowing adult adoptees to have access to their original birth certificate. They do this all in the name of speaking for ALL birthmothers stating they were given confidentiality and promises of privacy. We had five people either a member of the adoption triad, or concerned citizens show up in favor of this legislation. We hope that more will show up at the upcoming meetings to be held. Dedication is to immerse oneself with sincerity into a certain subject or properly the setting apart of anything by solem proclamation. That is what the members of NCCAR do.
There were two very incorrect statements made at the committee meeting yesterday, and those were that most adoptees and birth parents already know each other in the State of NC and the other was that petitioning the court system was a very quick and easy process. This only holds true in very few counties.
Selflessness is the act of scrificing ones own interest for the greater good. We hope anyone who is interested in this subject may join us at the next meeting, to be held on February 13, 2008 from 2-4pm, in room 1124/1224 of the Legislative Building.
The meeting after that on March 5, 2008, from 2-4 Adam Pertman the executive director of the Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute will be at to speak on other states who already have access.
If you are interested in joining us or learing more about the new Confidential Intermediary Program which went into effect on January 1, 2008, please visit our website at http://adoptionreform-nc.org. We hope you will have discussion on this very hot topic.
Remember learning is only done by asking others who know something about the subject questions. You cannot know what it is like to be a birth parent, adoptive parent or adult adoptee unless you are one.
Roberta MacDonald - Chairwoman - NC Coalition for Adoption Reform and NC State Representative to the American Adoption Congress.
