Former Maine State Senator Paula Benoit has success in New York!
After a week of visiting offices of New York State Senators and Assemblymembers, former Maine State Senator, Paula Benoit is feeling very successful. Her message is simple, every adoptee has a basic human right to their original birth certificate, and she is taking her message to states considering legislation providing adult adoptees access.
In 1935, adoption birth certificates were sealed in New York, and now the legislature will debate whether adoptees born in New York are entitled to what every non-adopted citizen has, their original identity.
Senator Benoit was a co-sponsor on Maine’s legislation LD 1084 – An Act to Provide Adult Adoptees Access to Their Original Birth Certificates. The bill was passed and signed into law June 25, 2007, and has been receiving positive reports from the Office of Vital Records.
In Maine, birth certificates of all adopted children have been sealed since 1953 and on January 2, 2009 any adult adoptee born in Maine is able to have what all other non-adopted people have, their original birth certificates. Senator Benoit stayed all day at the Office of Vital Record on opening day to be of support to adoptees and other members of the adoption triad as they came forward to receive their birth certificates.
“It was a wonderful day of sharing laughter and tears of joy. Adoptive parents came to support their adult adopted children and were very happy they finally had access to what so many take for granted, their original identity. Two birth mothers were present and one stayed all day, hoping to look into the eyes of the son she surrendered 36 years before. She was sure she would recognize him, even after all these years. Sadly, he did not arrive on opening day.” Benoit reflected.
“The best part of this legislation is that it allows the adult adoptees to decide if they want to have their original birth certificate or not. Many do not have a need for any other birth certificate than the altered paper they received when they were adopted. This would only have their adoptive parents names listed as their parents with no mention of birth mother or father. For those who feel a need to understand their heritage and birth identity, it is freeing to know they can go to the Office of Vital Records and ask for a birth certificate and receive a paper that has their original information on it.” “The most important fact is that it is the adult adoptee’s choice. Not the birth parent, adoptive parent or the Government’s decision as to whether the adoptees have a right to know who they are or not. This is true democracy and fairness for all members of the adoption triad.”
Many states are pursuing legislation allowing adult adoptees access to their original birth certificates, and former State Senator Paula Benoit plans to be in every state educating Legislators and the public on the importance of this legislation.
For more information on states considering access legislation or information regarding sealed birth certificates go to www.adopteecare.com
“I can’t think of anything more important than being able to know who you are and where you come from, happy or sad, it is a basic human right every American citizen should have.”
