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My birthmom and I testified in support of #HB2725 yesterday in the Public Health Committee hearing. Although our bill isn’t about reunion, it was a testament to the fact that anonymity in adoption is a myth. #AdopteeRights @txadoptees @gina_calanni 
I’m an adult. I made the decision to reach out to my birth mom and she made the decision to reciprocate. The state should treat all adult citizens equally regardless of their connection to adoption. This might become a long thread...
Additionally, if my birth mom chose not to be in contact with me, why would my OBC have anything to do with that? We are adults and adoptees aren’t going to force contact with a birth parent or any other person for that matter.
Are folks suggesting we are different to non adopted people in that regard? Are they suggesting we would act in a certain manner because we are adopted?
If that’s the case, that’s called profiling and we are being targeted simply because we were adopted.
Access to our own vital statistics document (OBC) has zero to do with adoption and everything to do with treating adopted people as equals to non adopted people under the law.
Non adopted adults do not have to ask their parents permission to access their own accurate record of birth. Why should adult adoptees?
If anyone wants to challenge this by arguing secrecy and anonymity is a right for birth parents, I would respond by saying I have a right NOT to live as a secret. People aren’t secrets. #HB2725 #Equality #AdopteeRights
I don’t need the state to parent me. I have four children, three whom I’ve put through college. I own a business, I vote and I pay taxes. I think I can manage my own affairs. If I can legally vote, drink alcohol, smoke, and gamble, I can manage knowing the truth of my own birth.
Suggesting that birth parents or adoptive parents interest in my own original birth certificate are greater than mine is ridiculous. My adoptive parents can’t prohibit the release of my amended certificate and neither can my birth parents.
An original birth certificate is a vital statistics document that solely belongs to the registrant. I know of no other issue where it’s argued that an adult must ask permission of their parents to access their own vital statistics documents.
Last but not least, I do not have power over my adult children’s birth certificates. I received a copy of my OBC bc I have mad search skills and found out the names on it. TX law already demonstrates it has zero care for birth parent anonymity ...
