Atlanta Bound; Thanks to YOU

So just in case I haven’t been clear enough, yes, I AM going to the Adoptee Rights Coalition’s Demonstration in Atlanta. In fact, I am ON the plane right now.

I had actually meant to have this post UP on Wednesday, before the video post started rolling out, but I was terribly, in a good way of course, distracted by the news about the upcoming ACCESS MASSACHUSETTS meeting next Thursday. Then I thought that I would find a way to sneak this post in, but THAT was near impossible. It has been a VERY busy past two weeks getting ready for this event. Which leads me to the whole point of this post.

If it was not for the most generous contributions and overall AdoptionLand support that I received, I would not BE on a plane right now and I would NOT be going to the Adoptee Rights Demonstration. And while, there would, of course, be an ARC protest with or without me, I did end up doing a heck of a lot of the overall “tour guide” prep work here. So even the smallest bit of assistance ended up as really having a HUGE impact. I mean think about it.

How Many People Are we Helping with the ARC Demonstration?

If there are close to 7 million adult adoptees in the USA. Then we’re also looking at their at least 7 million birthmothers, and fathers, and siblings and then add in the extended family members. That’s a heck of a lot of millions of folks, and lord knows how many of them do not even KNOW that they don’t have access to their OBC’s and are discriminated against.

So, we have give or take about 70 people registered for the actual protest right now. So each individual person is really representing approximately 100,000 adoptees alone! Now due to this gig being so late in the season this year ( and I warn you now, it’s even LATER in August next year) and all sorts of other complications, we actually only have two Adoptee Rights Coalition Board members able to be here this year.. and one of them would be me. I also happen to be one of the few people who have five of these under their belt. So, not tosound all pumped up on myself coz I hate that, but it’s kinda really good that I was able to make it happen.

An Incredible Group Effort

And that’s the thing. I didn’t MAKE it happen. YOU did! I asked for help and you all gave it. And because of the most generous contributions to me from AdoptionLand, I am now sitting her in the Atlanta airport calmly drinking an ice coffee and waiting for Cheerio to get in.

So because of YOU, whether it was a donation, or a coffee gift card, or an offer of sharing your hotel room or even a few lovely offers of local folks opening up their HOME to me, really a complete stranger, I am able to be here and do what I consider to be one of the most important pieces of “work” that needs to be done in order to make, hopefully, someday, adoption to be more like what the industry pretends it should be.

The Bigger Impact of Your Support in Adoption Truths,/h2>

It is my FIRM belief that so many pieces of the adoption puzzle, or the false house of cards created by the adoption industry rests upon the issue of sealed adoption records.

Yes, adult adoptees should be treated equally. Yes, this is the ONE part of the mistake I made in relinquishing Max that I can actually undo. But more than that ( which is already a whole lot!)…I really think that IF we get enough states to restore access to the adoptees, then the rest of the states will follow. And IF we get most of the country to allow adult adoptees to be treated equally, then more folks will be able to find their true identity and their own personal truths as they deserve. And IF the true stories of their relinquishments come out… no more “loved you so much” crap, but the forced relinquishments, the pain, the losses, the never ending grief.. everything out of the closet, then more and more people will see what adoption really is… and I tell you… I believe it in my heart, we will see the house of lies come falling down.

And, so.. as I sit here, in Atlanta, I thank you for helping change the world. It’s not just support, it’s not just money.. it is hope. And I promise, as I always I will do my damnest to carry it out to the end.

I wanted to list names here, but I have to admit that my final list I bought on the plane has a few missing and I do NOT want to leave anyone out! So I will just stay true to my goal of transparency and say that within 24 hours, I told Rye, “Honey, they are sending me to Atlanta. I am going to have to go and it will NOT impact our family at all in any monetary way.” and that is 100% the truth.

My most heartfelt thanks.

PS, please expect more typos than usual. I am on the Ipad only. 🙂