If you want to work towards open OBC's in your state?

Question

How would you start?

State Senators?

Start a petition?

All suggestions welcome:)

Answer 1

I guess it depends on what's going on in your state. In my state, the legislature has already passed measures to allow access to OBCs. Our governor vetoed it and said that it would be vetoed every time it comes up.  The reason given is the old one that "natural mothers were guaranteed privacy".  

So where I live, there's no need to go after the state reps, it's the governor. I can't do much that isn't already being done toward getting first moms in contact with the governor.

However I asked the question on here awhile ago who exactly was organized to fight open access and everyone said it was basically adoption lobbying groups trying to make things palatable to adoptive parents. So I was hoping that if adoptive parents became more vocal, we could help to change things.

When I go to group events where adoptive parents will be, I bring sample letters and stamped addressed envelopes. I've asked parents to send letters to the agency they adopted from, the lobbying groups active in my state, and to the governor.

ETA: I agree with Heather's ETA.  :)

It makes no sense to me that the governor can deny a whole group of people their rights because MAYBE some other people MIGHT not like it.  Not really any basis in law for that.

Answer 2

A writing campaign to State Legislators

I was amazed when we attended the Convention of State Legislators in New Orleans recently just how many people (including the legislators) who were unaware that Adult Adoptees are denied access to information relating to their own lives.  One actually said "but can't you get that when you're 18?"

All we're asking for is equal rights for adult adoptees to something the non-adopted take for granted.  Who can argue with equal rights?  Any argument against Adult Adoptees' access to their own records are arguments in defense of discrimination IMHO

Raising awareness of the facts of this discrimination is so important.  Thanks so much for being a part of restoring equal rights for all.

ETA:  The Governor in Wynner's State is discriminating against adoptees on the presumption of harm - almost worse than the initial denial to access to their own records of birth!

This argument comes up time and time again, not from the 'birthmothers' themselves (they didn't seal our records! - the government does that upon finalisation of an adoption), no, this argument comes from the 'industry' and people with a vested interest in keeping secrets in adoption.

The 'privacy' argument is unsubstantiated hogwash.

Answer 3

There are a couple of ways of going about it.  In some states, like Maine and Alabama, a bill draft was taken to a legislator who then brought it forth as a bill.  In Oregon, it was brought forth as a ballot measure (Ballot Measure 58) and voted on by the people.  

Ballot Measures are a simpler task in smaller states, but they are always very, very expensive.  If an organization plans on approaching equality for adopted citizens via ballot measure, then a lot of money needs to be raised.  It also takes a lot of people, normally hired people, to acquire enough signatures to get the item on the ballot.  There's actually a documentary out about Oregon's Ballot Measure 58, called "Measurable Rights: The Fight for Open Records in Oregon."

Of course, in Alaska and Kansas, no work has ever been necessary to give equal access rights to adopted citizens.  Those two state never sealed them from the person whose birth they record in the first place.

As Heather pointed out, first parents have nothing to do with sealing the birth records.  In fact, records don't seal when someone gives a child up for adoption.  If that child is never adopted (or is adopted but the adoption fails,) the record is not sealed!  It is only a finalized adoption that carries with it the sealing of one's birth record, with an amended one issued.  It is only persons who have the status of "adopted" who can be denied the right to their own birth records in 44 states.

Answer 4

I would begin with the media and then my mp. and then I would have the media go to my mp.