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New York Adoptee Rights Coalition

We work to restore the right of adult adoptees in New York to obtain their original birth certificates without conditions or restrictions.

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NYAE Has Left the New York Adoptee Rights Coalition

February 2, 2018 By New York Adoptee Rights Coalition

New York Adoptee Equality (NYAE) informed us this morning that they have left the coalition. Genuine and meaningful coalition work is extremely difficult. It involves multiple strong opinions and positions of organizations that have often disagreed on various issues and strategies over time. Nevertheless, true coalitions always have one unifying objective, and NYARC’s objective has been crystal clear from the beginning: restore the right of all New York adoptees to request and obtain their original birth certificates, without conditions or restrictions.

All the member organizations signed a commitment to that goal before joining, including NYAE. Most recently, we worked together to draft and approve a statement of positions on all then-pending New York adoptee rights bills. NYAE specifically agreed to those positions and statements; however, we understand now that NYAE’s opinion on these positions has changed and that they feel it is necessary to withdraw. We wish NYAE well as it moves forward on its own path.

The four New York and national core organizations of the coalition continue to work together on the legislative and public work of fighting for adoptee rights, as do New York adoptees and allies who support us. That work continues, and we also look forward to expanding our supporters and strategic partners, such as Reclaim the Records, who joined us this past week.

If you have any questions about NYARC positions, strategy, or work, please contact us directly at [email protected]. We anticipate no further statements about NYAE’s resignation from the coalition. Our work simply continues, and it continues not through one single member but through a coalition of organizations that have committed collectively to a single goal: equality for all adoptees.

Annette O’Connell and Barbara Fuller
New York Adoptees and Co-Spokespersons for NYARC

Filed Under: Latest News Tagged With: Coalition Partners, NYAE

About NYARC

The New York Adoptee Rights Coalition works to restore the right of all adult adoptees in New York to obtain their own original birth certificates, without conditions or restrictions. Join Us • Read More…

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kris says

    February 2, 2018 at 5:45 pm

    Wait a minute, do you mean you’re *not* working for full equality for adoptees and their descendants to access their (or their ancestors’) Original Birth Certificates?

    • New York Adoptee Rights Coalition says

      February 2, 2018 at 6:07 pm

      NYARC supports the Avella Bill, which provides access to the adoptee, the adoptee’s descendants, or the lawful representative of the adoptee. The specific provision in the Avella Bill provides:

      The Commissioner, or any person authorized by him or her, shall issue non-certified copies of original long form birth certificates upon specific request therefor by an adoptee, if 18 years of age or more, or if the adoptee is deceased, by the adoptee’s descendants, or by other law representatives of such adoptee . . . .

  2. Steven Baranowski says

    February 2, 2018 at 6:09 pm

    Hi. I am very concerned about this. I agree with the goals of unrestricted access, but I am also very concerned about all three bills being blown up.

    My concerns include how to productively engage Weinstein’s office. As the historical leader of the opposition to any access at all, no progress will be made on this unless she is engaged.

    Can we find other providers to provide support including adoption agencies, attorneys and groups that support biological parents so that one strong message can be sent out

    • New York Adoptee Rights Coalition says

      February 3, 2018 at 12:27 pm

      That’s one primary purpose of a coalition: bringing organizations together that may not normally work collectively for any number of reasons: specific missions of each organization, territoriality, competition for funding, or—especially among adoptee advocates—differing opinions and strategies, and strong differences at that.

      NYARC has worked hard to form a coalition that now represents New York adoptees directly as well as many true allies indirectly, whether birthparents, adoptive parents, attorneys, social workers, etc. AFFCNY and AAC are good examples, as they have missions that may be broader than adoptee rights but they understand the issue and have committed to support only unconditional access to the OBC. Strategic partners can bring added expertise and experience to our efforts, such as Reclaim the Records, which will provide incredible advice and direction on how to obtain vital records and what, in the end, constitutes equality for adoptees in getting those records. And we continue to build on what we already have.

      The day-t0-day leaders of the coalition will always be New York adoptees. That’s been in place since the beginning. But a solid working coalition of organizations, together with support from allies, is likely the only way to make real progress in New York. No organization can do it alone. We only need to look at the successful A5036B veto effort to realize that. But getting that veto, in the end, will prove far easier than enacting a law in New York that ensures genuine equality for all adoptees.

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Organizations that Support Us

The following organizations, while not core partners, support the work of the New York Adoptee Rights Coalition.

  • AdoptieZaken & Familierecht (AZF/Netherlands)
  • California Open
  • Canada Open Records
  • Concerned United Birthparents
  • Equality for Adoptees
  • Indiana Open
  • Italiadoption
  • Know Your Own
  • Michigan Open Records
  • Minnesota Coalition for Adoption Reform
  • Missouri Open
  • National Center on Adoption and Permanency
  • New York Genealogical and Biographical Society
  • Nevada Open
  • Post Adoption Center for Education & Resources (PACER)

Latest News and Actions

UPDATE: New York State Applications

New State Directive Addresses Adoptees Born Outside of New York

UPDATE: New York State Numbers

Current Coalition Partners

  • Adoptee Rights Law Center
  • Adoptive and Foster Family Coalition of New York
  • Bastard Nation

 

Strategic Partners
  • Reclaim the Records

About NYARC

The New York Adoptee Rights Coalition works to restore the right of adult adoptees in New York to obtain their original birth certificates without conditions or restrictions.

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