Current Washington Adoption Laws are Discriminatory Against Adoptees
Our state's current adoption law is codified in Revised Code of Washington at chapter 26.33. As adoptee rights advocates we take issue with several sections of this chapter. We believe all records should remain unsealed however at the very least, we should all have access to our records at age 18. That is the age of adulthood and we should have the same rights to our documentation, name and heritage as any other human being, any other American citizen. As the law stands now, only those born in 1993 or later can get access to their original birth certificates and then only if no contact veto has been signed by the natural parents. This is not acceptable. The law completely excludes those of us who were born prior to 1993 from accessing our information except through a confidential intermediary. Further, it allows a natural parent's veto to supersede the rights of the adoptee in obtaining their personal documentation and therefore their history. We call all adoptees, adoptive parents, natural parents, and all those who care about adoptee rights to unite in demanding open access to birth certificates for all!
Additionally, we take issue to the sections of RCW Chapter 26.33 which allow a natural mother only 48 hours to revoke or rescind the relinquishment of her newborn child. We feel Washington State should encourage mothers to keep their children, and to facilitate this a mother must be given a fair chance to bond with her baby. Signing papers at birth and allowing only a 48 hour window for her to change her mind does not encourage the option of the mother keeping her child. We request that our state put a priority on family unity, acknowledge that it is clearly the best choice for a child to be raised by his or her natural family and to disallow or at least discourage adoptions of children within the first few months of life except in very rare circumstances.
Write to your legislator and demand access to birth certificates for all adoptees today!!!