My husband, John and I are birthparents of a now 22yr old daughter. We were extremely lucky to have a semi open adoption since her birth that has been completely open since she was 17. All of our lives (including her adoptive parents) have been enriched by this openness. I have also worked in the field of adoption for many years promoting openness in adoption here in Maine since 1992. I have yet to meet a birthparent of a closed adoption who doesn’t wish they had more openness! I have heard of some that do not want contact for their own very complicated reasons. However, in all these cases it has been my professional opinion that the desire not to have contact stems from fear, grief and shame imposed upon them by the trauma of a closed adoption and the pain of carrying a secret for so many years. If contact were finally permitted I am confident that with guidance these women would finally be able to begin to heal. Do not listen to those who would try to convince you that LD1805 is a vote against women! It is just the OPPISITE and in addition it is a vote against the oppressive, archaic and inhumane practice of closed adoption and those who would wish to protect this institution of lies and shame. I regret that I have been unable to attend any judiciary workshop up to this point.

I am definitely in favor of all adoptees having the right to their birth information. I am an adoptee born in 1948 in Maine and because I was born before 1953 my original birth certificate is available to me. I am one of the lucky ones. I was reading my adoption certificate today and part of the legalese written there states that I have rights to property owned by my blood line. If I was not able to obtain my birth information then how could this be? This is only one small point...there are so many people who are not adopted don't know or understannd. It's time for everyone to stop being so insecure and to let all adoptees have their civil rights. I am also an adoptive parent and always felt that my child has a right to know where he came from. Thank you for letting me express my opinion.

I could on for days as to why I think that

I am a 50 yo adoptive individual from Maine now residing in NH. I am a health care professional with a particular appreciation to the critical importance of family medical history.
At my age time is running out to find biologic parents surviving and able to provide information.

I have sent a donation along to Access 2006 and urge others to do the same.

I am willing to partipate in the process.

I am an adoptee from Ohio and I do believe all adoptees whould have access to their OBC.
Finding out that my birth mother died a year after having and placing me after searching in a closed state for 14 years was not pleaseing at all. Had I gotten my birth certificate when I turned 18 or 21, I would have least had some closure.

Hi mom, I completely agree obviously and wish you good luck today. I'm in the school library starting my research paper so I decided to begin here.


~Pete