"SAVED" AT THE HOSPITAL

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Remember long ago when “safe havens” were supposed to save newborns from dumpsters? This is the latest from Nick Silverio at in Florida: May 13th, 2009 Dear Friends of “Safe Haven”, A little boy was born this month at a Hospital in North Florida under the “Safe Haven” program. He and his mother were doing very well. This is the one hundred and thirty first (131) baby saved from the dangers of abandonment, from an almost sure death. The mission continues…..saving one life at a time. Sincerely,Nick Silverio How can a baby be born “under a ‘Safe Haven’ program”? “Safe Haven” laws at the very best, were meant as emergency custody procedings and have nothing to do with birth procedures. Now in Florida, at least” it seems there’s a special type of program for those who can’t be bothered–or who are purposefully kept from knowing how– to make a real adoption plan or get real counseling or make real informed consent. Or how to keep their baby. As we warned, baby dumping has become normalized. Just another consumer choice and on the state’s dime to boot. Talk about abuse of a bad law.

WHAT IS MADONNA THINKING?

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Thanks to Lorraine Dusky for this heads-up on Madonna’s May 5 appearance at the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute Ball with boy toy Jesus Luz. The article was published the next day in the London Daily Mail under the headline Is this really a suitable dress for someone trying to win an adoption case, Madonna? Well Bastardette answers with a resounding NO, especially since Madge debuted Louis Vuitton’s cartoon the day after her adoption appeal hearing in Malawi. Aren’t’ those boots sweaty? And what’s on that her head? A flying fox bat? There’s a lot to say about this, but why take the time when the Daily Mail (go there and here for more pictures!) says it all: One would have thought that Madonna would invest her time and energies into getting her house in order to ensure she has every chance of success in her bid to bring Mercy James to the US to live with her. Instead, she wore an outfit that breached the limits of vulgarity, and displayed her typically arrogant thinking. And not only that, in another move which may not help her case, she also chose the high-profile fashion event to début her romance Continue Reading →

CALIFORNIA AB 372 SENT TO SUSPENSE FILE

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If you were listening to the Cal Assembly Appropriations Committee hearing today you may wonder what happened to AB 372. First there was Assb. Ma and then there wasn’t and not a word about the bill in between. I figured it went into the suspense file, where bills are usually sent to die, but was puzzled because the number wasn’t even called. Jean Uhrich from CalOpen was on the scene and tells us that’s exactly what happened. The committee has until May 25 to retrieve it from suspension, but because of the costs involved, the bill is likely to expire there. Death by hubris. The disclosure veto, we understand, cannot be amended back to a contact preference form because the change would send the bill back to the Assembly Judiciary Committee, which has already stated its opposition to such an amendment. It may be a bit early yet, but good riddance to bad rubbish! We’ll keep you informed. I don’t think it’s a bad idea to keep those cards and letters comin” kiddies!

BASTARD NATION’S LETTER TO THE CAL ASSMB. APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE: ADOPTEES ARE NOT PART OF A CALIFORNIA ECONOMIC STIMULUS PACKAGE

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Dear Honorable Assemblymember: Bastard Nation: the Adoptee Rights Organization is the largest adoptee civil rights organization in North America. We advocate for the full human and civil rights of adult adoptees. We believe people everywhere have a right to their unaltered and unfalsifed birth records. This means opening government documents pertaining to the adoptee’s historical, genetic, and legal identity, including the unaltered original birth certificate (obc) and adoption decree. Our membership includes adopted adults and first and adoptive parents. We have substantial membership in California. BN was behind the 1998 Oregon Ballot Measure 58 which restored the right of the state’s adult adoptees to access their original birth certificates. In 2000 Bastard Nation sponsored legislation in Alabama which restored access there. In 2004 we worked in a coalition of adoptee rights advocates in New Hampshire where adoptee civil rights were restored on January 1, 2005. We are currently working in other states to restore records access. Bastard Nation leaves no one behind. We do not support legislation that restricts even one adopted person from receiving his or her own information. Bastard Nation does not support AB 372. Our submitted testimony is in the official Assembly Judiciary legislative analysis. AB 372 Continue Reading →

WARNING: GLADNEY WANTS TO EMPOWER "BIRTHMOTHERS"

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On pull–ee–zeeee! I had to take a moment out from writing to the Cal House Appropriations Committee to post this warning: The Next Step in Services for GladneyFORT WORTH, Texas–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The Gladney Center for Adoption is excited to announce the launch of our newest program for birthmothers — Next Steps. Next Steps was developed to help birthmothers transition back into the “real world” after delivery — armed with knowledge, education, practical tools, and confidence to take on the world with a renewed and healthy perspective by focusing on the whole person — mind, body and spirit. It is Gladney’s goal for birthmothers to leave us well-equipped to take on new opportunities. Beth Cox, Caseworker for Next Steps, says, “Next Steps teaches girls how to dream, and even more importantly, how to achieve their dreams. It is about teaching women how to empower themselves.” While working with Gladney, birthmothers are learning about nutrition, cooking, life skills, developing critical thinking skills, team work, trust and the importance of self-respect. Next Steps is about continuing the progress birthmothers make during their time at Gladney. “We will continue to help support our clients’ efforts and help them tap into community resources such as career Continue Reading →

CAL OPEN/BASTARD NATION ACTION ALERT- CAL AB 372. ACT NOW!

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This is CalOpen’s URGENT ACTION ALERT FOR CALIFORNIA. It also serves as a Bastard Nation Action Alert Note that Assb. Ma’s office now says there will be an $8 MILLION start-up cost!!!!!!! * * * CALIFORNIA OPEN ACTION ALERT * * * PLEASE DISTRIBUTE FREELY Issued May 12, 2009 URGE THE CALIFORNIA STATE LEGISLATUREASSEMBLY APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEETO VOTE NO ON AB 372 On Wednesday, May 13th, 2009 AB 372 will come before the California State Legislature’s Assembly Appropriations Committee. Assembly Bill 372 would require State Notification to birthparents of an adoptee’s request for their record and the birthparent’s Consent to Disclosure and Release of the Original Birth Certificate to the adoptee. The author’s office has stated there is an $8 Million start up cost estimate attached to the bill. The State of California can not afford such foolish expense, especially when other open records states have utilized a Contact Preference Form with no fiscal note attached and no additional staff required for implementation and provision. WE MUST ACT NOW TO DEFEAT AB 372 AND LEAVE CLEAR THE PATH FOR A RIGHTS DRIVEN OPEN RECORDS BILL. DO NOT ALLOW A MISGUIDED ATTEMPT TO WORK WITHIN AND EXPAND AN EXISTING DISCLOSURE VETO, UNDER Continue Reading →

IN CASE ANYONE CARES: CARE DREAM TEAM

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When the California Adoption Reform Effort (CARE) announced itself in January 2009, it also announced a list of CARE “committee members”–its dream team recruited to help them turn California into a adoptee paradise. I was surprised at some of the people who should know better who showed up on the roster. Other people did not surprise me. The list has never appeared on the public CARE website, though it may be in their special “members only” section. Since $85 is a lot of money to pay to see who CARE glommed on, we regretfully decline the membership offer. I want to make clear that not all of the dream team have been involved in a substantial way with CARE nor are they necessarily on its board. I’ve spoken to a couple people listed and they said they signed on only to act as advisers if asked. Whether their advice is taken is up for grabs. Some members appear to be window dressing. All should consider pleading temporary insanity and take a long rest in the country. Below is a list of “committee members.” CARE has not posted the names of its 20+ board members but I’ve marked the ones on Continue Reading →

CORRECTION: TEXAS HB 4470/SB 499: BASTARD NATION’S LETTER TO THE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC HEALTH–DEFEAT THEM!

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I mistakenly posted the BN Action Alert a second time instead of the letter. Here is the correct post. Here is the letter Bastard Nation sent to the Texas House Committee on Public Health regarding HB 4470 and SB 499. We called for instructions to submit written testimony and learned that the legislature will only take in-person testimony. In other words, if an individual or organization wants their testimony on any bill to be on the record they may have to make an 8 hour drive or fly to Austin. And forget about faxing. It clogs up their machines and takes too much time. Please email! (See previous action alert for details) HB 4470 and SB 499 appear to be the handiwork of the so-called adoption reform organization TxCare. (webpage out of date.) So don’t‘ blame it all on the adoption industry. BASTARD NATION: THE ADOPTEE RIGHTS ORGANIZATION P.O. Box 1409 Edmond, OK 73083-1409 Phone/Fax (415) 479-3741 May 4, 2009 Re: HB 4470 and SB 499 Texas State Legislature House of Representatives Committee on Public Health Honorable Representatives: Bastard Nation: The Adoptee Rights Organization, the largest adoptee rights group in North America, opposes HB 4470 AND SB 499. We advocate Continue Reading →

BASTARD NATION ACTION ALERT– NO ON TEXAS: SB 499/HB 4470

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BASTARD NATION: THE ADOPTEE RIGHTS ORGANIZATION ACTION ALERT TEXAS ACTION ALERT- EMERGENCY TEXAS SENATE BILL 499 & COMPANION HOUSE BILL 4470 We have an emergency in the Texas State Legislature. Probably one of the worst combination of so-called “adoptee rights bills” in history are on their way to crushing any chance of adoptee’s ever achieving equal access to birth certificates, now and in the future. Senate Bill 499 was engrossed and passed the Senate on April 28, 2009 and was sent to the House. A companion bill, House Bill 4470, has been waiting in the wings. On April 28, 2009, testimony was taken and registrations recorded in the committee. The bill has been left pending in committee. PLEASE WRITE AND CALL THE HOUSE COMMITTEE MEMBERS TODAY. Ask them to vote NO to SB 499 and HB 4470. We must not allow this destructive bill to get any closer to the floor of the House. The bill must be killed RIGHT NOW IN COMMITTEE. Contact information appears below. SB 499 and HB 447 have some minor differences in language but they both contain the same myriad of humiliating restrictions on adoptee rights. In the Senate bill, an adopted adult can receive Continue Reading →