Legislators dismiss adult adopted people as perpetual children, infantilizing us to assure that a damaging and often false narrative of adoption will continue to control us.
This has also been extended to parents who surrendered children for adoption. These parents are frozen in time and are constantly reminded that—whatever happened to them in the past or however they were treated—it was for their own good to make pregnancies, childbirth, and adoption an eternal secret.
And when adopted people and parents speak up, legislators often don’t listen to them. Worse, don’t typically trust what we say about our own lived experiences.
We reject both the infantilizing of adopted people and the continued shame and stigma that is used to control and silence parents. We are adults and can manage our personal affairs as adults, without state government interference and control.
But don’t take our word for it. Here’s some other adults who agree.
Organizations that Support HB5148/HB5149
Adoptee Advocates of Michigan
Adoptee Rights Law Center
Adoptee Voices
Adoption & Foster Family Coalition of New York
Adoptive Family Support Network/DA Blodgett St. John’s
American Academy of Adoption & ART Attorneys
American Adoption Congress
Arbor Circle
Bastard Nation: The Adoptee Rights Organization
Bridge Street Ministries
Capitol Coalition for Adoptee Rights
Catholic Mothers for Truth & Transparency
Concerned United Birthparents
Families Rising (formerly NACAC)
Find Self Counseling
Hands Across the Water
Louisiana Coalition for Adoption Reform
Michigan Adoptee Collaborative
Michigan Adoptee Rights Coalition
Michigan Federation for Children & Families
Minnesota Coalition for Adoption Reform
Mothers for Open Records Everywhere
National Center on Adoption and Permanency
New England Adoptee Rights Coalition
New York Adoptee Rights Coalition
Saving Our Sisters
Texas Adoptee Rights Coalition
Transitions Therapy
Tree Town Therapy, PLLC