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| Jane |
"This is
not my biological mother's piece of paper," adoptee Nancy Retynski told the Washington House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday holding up her original birth certificate. "This is
not my adoptive mother's piece of paper. This is
my birth certificate and I have every right to it." As she left the table, Retynski broke into tears and the audience of applauded. Committee members were visibly moved.
Tuesday's hearing was on a bill (SB 5118) that would allow Washington-born adult adoptees to access their original birth certificates as long as their birth mother does not file a veto (variously called an
affidavit of non-disclosure or
contact preference which would be binding). Such a veto would expire only upon the death of the mother.
