In the off and on bizarre process that annually surrounds adoptee rights legislation, Connecticut has taken its own weird turn. Up until yesterday, a solid adoptee rights bill was on track for Senate approval, having been reported out favorably by two committees and prepped to go before the full Senate for a vote this week. Then a state Senator, apparently keen on birthparent “privacy,” offered up a thirteen word phrase that is now gumming up the works, with less than a week left in the Connecticut session. That clause, repeated three times in various contexts in the amendment is:
provided . . . the name of such adopted person’s father shall be listed on such certificate
While it’s rather inartfully worded, the proposed language means this in context of the overall bill:
- An original birth certificate in Connecticut will not be released unless a father is listed on the original certificate. Period.
- Adopted persons in Connecticut who currently have an unrestricted right to obtain the OBC (those adopted after October 1, 1983) would no longer have that right. They too would have to have a father listed on the OBC in order for the OBC to be released, effective in July if the proposed amendment is adopted and the bill is passed.
- It would not only discriminate against adult adoptees as a class but would target that discrimination against those who were born “illegitimate.”
In other words, the proposed amendment is continued and targeted discrimination against those of us born as bastards, out-of-wedlock, illegitimate. One of the very specific reasons that OBCs were sealed in the first place—to protect the adoptee from the stigma of illegitimacy—is now being used as the reason to discriminate against them directly. It’s upside down, and deserves swift action.
Contact Select Senators
Access Connecticut is asking people to contact State Senator Bob Duff, who is the Senate Majority Leader, and ask him to bring the bill back to the Senate floor. Senators also need to reject the discriminatory amendment offered by their colleague, Senator Heather Somers. Senator Duff’s contact information is below:
Senator Bob Duff
Senate Majority Leader
Phone: 860-240-0414
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @senatorduff
Ask Senator Duff to bring SB972 back up before the Senate for full consideration. You can also contact the following Senators to request that they reject the “Somers Amendment,” a backwards approach that literally requires the presence of a man to release an adoptee’s own vital record.
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Responses So Far
The response to this amendment has been swift and withering. As some adopted persons’ have pointed out:
Welcome back to the Baby Scoop Era folks.
— Kim Saxen/Annette (@NotYourAbortee) May 28, 2019
Gee. It’s almost like she doesn’t know that most original mothers were forbidden to name the father. 🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️ And they STILL try to play that game.
— Linda (@WestSideOldLady) May 28, 2019
@heatherssomers your comments on the floor today dehumanized an entire group of people. #Adoptees
— Equality4Adoptees (@E4Adoptees) May 28, 2019
During debate for SB 972, a VERY anti-woman amendment was put forth requiring only adoptees’ who have a father listed on their birth certificates would be able to get theirs. It protects no one & means more discrimination against adoptees. Vote no @CTSenateDems @CTSenateGOP
— Access Connecticut (@AccessCT) May 28, 2019
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