Steve Inskeep editorial

I’m sharing this important, persuasive opinion piece in the March 26, 2021 edition of The New York Times by Steve Inskeep, adoptee and adoptive father and NPR co-host, about his birth records in the State of Indiana finally being unsealed–after 50 years. Inskeep talks candidly about his lack of interest in his birth story until two things happened: in 2012, he became an adoptive father himself to a daughter from China; and in 2018, the State of Indiana’s adoption law changed, allowing sealed records to be opened. In 2019, Inskeep received details of his birth, including the name of his first mother, where she grew up, and the situation surrounding her pregnancy and his birth. Now, Inskeep wants every adoptee to have full, legal access to their birth information–information that belongs rightfully to every human being but is still denied to adoptees in many states. Writes Inskeep: “Equality would end an information blackout that robs people of identity. Throughout life, I have met people who spent years searching for birth parents, complicating their struggles to come to terms with their past…. It’s one of those little things that never bother you until it does.” This is a primary reason why the falsification of documents can be so shattering to families searching for birth mothers in Guatemala. How can you find a person when every piece of paper contains misinformation and lies? As anyone who has hit a brick wall knows, it can be impossible. Which is devastating. An excerpt from Inskeep’s article: “It’s been nearly two years since I first read those documents, and I’m still not over it. Knowing that story has altered how I think about myself, and the seemingly simple question of where I’m from. It’s brought on a feeling of revelation, and also of anger. I’m not upset with my biological mother; it was moving to learn how she managed her predicament alone. Her decisions left me with the family that I needed — that I love…. I am angry that for 50 years, my state denied me the story of how I came to live on this earth. Strangers hid part of me from myself.” Read the article here.

Rebecca Trimble update

A while ago, I posted about the plight of Rebecca Trimble, an adoptee who lacks correct papers and is in danger of being deported. She lives in Alaska. Her husband, John Trimble, has set up a GoFundMe for legal fees, to which some of you may have contributed. To date, the Trimbles have reached and surpassed their goal. Now the Trimbles are asking for letters of support for Rebecca’s case, to be sent to Representatives and Senators in states across the US. Alaska Senators Dan Sullivan and Lisa Murkowski introduced a private bill for Rebecca’s relief to the Senate in March, and more recently, Representative Don Young introduced a companion bill to the House of Representatives. On their GoFundMe page, John Trimble writes: “We are still in need of letters, emails, and phone calls in support of private bills S.3490 (senate bill) and H.R.7807 (house bill) directed to the Senators and House of Representative members in every state except for Alaska.” To contact your Rep or Senator is easy. If you’re not sure who they are, search for your town or district + Congressional Rep or Senator. Go to their contact page. Fill in your name, address etc. and paste in your letter. My letter is below. Please feel free to use or modify, and send to anyone else who may be able to help. Re: REBECCA TRIMBLE ADOPTION / S. 3490 and H.R. 7807 Dear [NAME OF SENATOR OR CONGRESSPERSON]:I am writing to request that you co-sponsor and work toward the enactment of S. 3490 [or H.R. 7807], A Bill for the Relief of Rebecca Trimble. The bill is sponsored by Alaska Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, and Representative Don Young. Rebecca Trimble was adopted as an infant from Mexico some 30 years ago and only recently discovered her adoptive parents failed to secure for her the paperwork necessary to secure citizenship. I myself am an adoptive mother of two and the plight of adopted persons who lack papers is close to my heart. Adoptees are children of US citizens and deserve equal rights of citizenship. Rebecca Trimble spent her entire life believing she was an American citizen. A mother of two American citizens, married to an American military veteran who is a dentist for underserved populations in Alaska, Rebecca works as head chef for her church’s Supper Club for the Homeless. A recent New York Times article brought Rebecca’s plight to my attention. Thankfully, Alaska Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan have introduced S. 3490 and Representative Don Young has introduced H.R. 7807 to bring a positive resolution to her situation. [SENATOR OR CONGRESSPERSON’S NAME], you have the ability to correct this instance of injustice by co-sponsoring and working towards passage of these bill. As a citizen and resident of [YOUR TOWN, STATE], I respectfully request that you do so. Thank you for your consideration. Photo credit: Adoptees for Justice website