This is an action alert for all adopted people, birth/first parents, adoptive parents, and allies and supporters of all adult adopted people.
We ask that you contact the seven senators on the Michigan Senate Judiciary Committee to request a YES VOTE on HB5148/HB5149. The bills are being considered at 12pm EST on February 29, 2024, and it is essential that you do this as soon as possible. For additional background on these equal rights bills, see this post or our hearing packet, which was already submitted to the committee.
Who to Contact
Contact the seven senators on the Michigan Senate Judiciary Committee. Their emails are (copy and paste these into your email application)
senschang@senate.michigan.gov
senjirwin@senate.michigan.gov
senrjohnson@senate.michigan.gov
senjrunestad@senate.michigan.gov
senssantana@senate.michigan.gov
sensshink@senate.michigan.gov
senpwojno@senate.michigan.gov
The Email Subject
In the email subject, simply put YES ON HB5148/HB5149.
What to Say (Suggested Language)
Suggested language to use for contacting members of the committee. Modify or add to the email as you prefer, or copy and paste as is. The language below is tailored to specific lived experiences. Make sure you include your name and, if you are in Michigan, your town (or any connection to the state).
Jump to suggested language for an Adult Adoptee | Birth/First Parent | Adoptive Parent | Other/Supporter
Adopted People
Dear Chair Chang and Members of the Committee:
I am an adult adopted person. I join more than 25 state and national organizations, including the Michigan Adoptee Rights Coalition, in support of HB5148/HB5149. It is an equal rights bill that restores the rights of all Michigan-born adult adopted people to possess their own birth records, like any other human. This is important to me and to my family, and I ask that you hear my voice and act on the collective power of all the voices and organizations in support. Please vote YES on the bills in Committee.
Birth/First Parents
Dear Chair Chang and Members of the Committee:
I am a parent of a child surrendered for adoption. I join more than 25 state and national organizations, including Concerned United Birth Parents, First Mother Forum, and Catholic Mothers for Truth and Transparency, in support of HB5148/HB5149. It is a fair, equitable, and common-sense bill that restores the equal rights of all Michigan-born adult adopted people to their own birth records. Parents like me relinquished all rights over our children, and should have no control or any right to restrict their own birth records, especially as adults. I ask that you correct Michigan’s outdated and discriminatory law. Please vote YES on the bills in Committee.
Adoptive Parents
Dear Chair Chang and Members of the Committee:
I am an adoptive parent. I join more than 25 state and national organizations, including the National Center on Adoption and Permanency and the Michigan Confederation for Families and Children, in support of HB5148/HB5149. It is a fair, equitable, and common-sense bill that restores the equal rights of all Michigan-born adult adopted people to their own birth records. Adoptive parents like me strongly support our own adult children in obtaining a single document that is theirs and contains their own identities. I ask that you correct Michigan’s outdated and discriminatory law. Please vote YES on the bills in Committee.
Supporter/Other
Dear Chair Chang and Members of the Committee:
I join hundreds of thousands of people and more than 25 state and national organizations in support of HB5148/HB5149. These are fair, equitable, and common-sense bills that restore the equal rights of all Michigan-born adult adopted people to their own birth records. It is absurd that adult Michiganders are denied a single document that is theirs and that contains their own information and identities. I ask that you correct Michigan’s outdated and discriminatory law. Please vote YES on the bills in Committee.
Is Phone Your Thing? We Got You
If you prefer to call people, no worries. Go for it. Just be respectful and indicate that you would like the senator’s support on this bill. Here are the phone numbers:
Stephanie Chang (517) 373-7346
Jeff Irwin (517) 373-2406
Ruth Johnson (517) 373-1636
Jim Runestad (517) 373-1758
Sylvia Santana (517) 373-0990
Sue Shink (517) 373-2426
Paul Wojno (517) 373-8360
Please think of these individuals, they matter just as much as others. Our country is based on the land of the free. How can they possibly be as free as the rest of us if we deny them basic rights.
Having a sister that was placed for adoption and having to find out many years later that she was searching for her siblings and could not access the records makes me heart broken for her and my brothers and sister, as well as my long lost sibling. We now have a very special relationship with her and we have been making up for the 40+ years that we were apart.
It is understood that the birth mother is the person who is being shielded by the current law and it was a probably enacted with good intentions, however it doesn’t allow the person who is the adopted to reach out to find out about their medical or historical background.
Please vote your conscience, however please remember who actually is the person that needs to know.
Dear Chair Chang and Members of the Committee:
I join hundreds of thousands of people and more than 25 state and national organizations in support of HB5148/HB5149. These are fair, equitable, and common-sense bills that restore the equal rights of all Michigan-born adult adopted people to their own birth records. It is absurd that adult Michiganders are denied a single document that is theirs and that contains their own information and identities. I ask that you correct Michigan’s outdated and discriminatory law. Please vote YES on the bills in Committee.
Hi. My name is Gina Milazzo. I am an adult adoptee. I am 55 years of age, from NY, and found my biological father and other biological family members in 2018.
Since having access to my original birth certificate and meeting biological family, my life is totally different. I am more grounded, content and am no longer wondering every day where I came from.
It is essential for an adoptee to have access to their identities. It is essential for their psychological well being, identity and self-esteem.
Please vote yes on HB5148/5149
It is inhumane to keep an identity and original birth certificate and medical records from an adult adoptee or any human being. It is psychological abuse and should be against the law.
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Gina Milazzo
jgmilazzo@aol.com
Please pass HB5148/5149
They (adoptees) have a right as adults to know their history of themselves. I found a family member by luck when both records of each party was open. A reunion was made. It took some time. If records were open then those searching could know their true identity.
P.Mitchell
I am a Michigan born Adoptee, now living in Wisconsin. I have been trying for over 20 years to get any of my records, and since I was born in 1979 it seems impossible without thousands of dollars in travel, records fees and more. I know my birth parents names but not correct spelling. The hospital burned my records, getting them from the state is only option.