Gay had written testimony in her hands and read it word for word on April 13th before the IL Senate Judiciary Committee. I am a witness to that since I was present at the hearing. I have permission from Gay and her husband to place it on my Blog site. I respect their privacy so I have not included Gay's date of birth, their home address, phone # or email address. But other than that in its entirety:
April 13, 2010
To the Members of the Illinois Senate Judicary Committee:
My name is Gay Ellen Brown, I am a wife, mother of three daughters and grandma to Jacquline, my name sake, because I was born Jacquline Lenn Thompson on _________ in Chicago, Illinois and I am also an adoptee.
I flew in from New Jersey today to make my plea to you to stop the HB5428, it is unfair and unconstitutional to all adoptees born in Illinois.
My 51 year journey of self discovery of who and what I am came to a grinding halt last year because I wsas diagnosed with pre-cancerous conditions which required surgeries. My surgeon felt it necessary at this point in time to test me for the BRRCA gene for breast and ovarian cancer, however, my health insurance denied coverage for this very costly test because I can't prove anyone in my immediate family has this cancer and that I am not of a high risk group such as Swedish or Hungarian, but how do I know if I am? If I do not know my own heritage. If I had my original birth certificate I would know.
Growing up I always wanted to know answers to the questions every adoptee has. But today those answers could save my life or give me a better quality of life. I am also a birth mother who CHOSE to keep my daughters and I can't even protect them from possible inherited conditions that I may be passing down to them.
The discrimination we endure as adoptees must stop now, and our basic civil and human rights must be restored. Our original birth certificates belong to us and not to the state of Illinois.
Thank you for your time and consideration into this matter.
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5 comments:
Excellent testimony.This is a civil rights issue and hope it will be treated as such from here on in.Good luck.
Thanks for your support!
Yes, it is a civil rights issue. The bill has been fast-tracked and legislative action kept as secret as possible. The situation in IL is NOT good and if the bill becomes law, it is bound to affect other states with closed records to date.
Mary,
Thanks for publishing Gaye Brown’s testimony. I think I heard her being interviewed on the radio on the day of the hearing. That’s really good because it draws interest to our cause. Oh how I wish we could get through to our legislators that being adopted brings unexpected consequences all through our lifetimes.
I am opposed to HB 5428. I worry and pray for people like Gaye. What if her birth mother signs a Denial Form? Under HB 5428, Gaye will have to wait 5 years before she can come back for another try. When you are dealing with breast cancer, 5 years could be the difference between life and death.
Another thought: if Gaye’s original birth certificate had never been sealed in the first place, she would already have the answers to her health questions.
Thanks Mary for being at the hearing, and thank you Gaye, for coming all the way from New Jersey to testify.
Mary,
Thanks for publishing Gaye Brown’s testimony. I think I heard her being interviewed on the radio on the day of the hearing. That’s really good because it draws interest to our cause. Oh how I wish we could get through to our legislators that being adopted brings unexpected consequences all through our lifetimes.
I am opposed to HB 5428. I worry and pray for people like Gaye. What if her birth mother signs a Denial Form? Under HB 5428, Gaye will have to wait 5 years before she can come back for another try. When you are dealing with breast cancer, 5 years could be the difference between life and death.
Another thought: if Gaye’s original birth certificate had never been sealed in the first place, she would already have the answers to her health questions.
Thanks Mary for being at the hearing, and thank you Gaye, for coming all the way from New Jersey to testify.
A local radio station aired a clip from what was shown on WCIA3 after Gay and I were interviewed.
Our legislators don't care that some with serious health issues might have to wait 5 years. And how many more years would money be paid to CI's, only to not learn a thing about birth family medical history. What birth mothers submitted years ago might not mean much today. A person's health can change within days after completing forms. My own birth maternal grandfather died eight months after I was born and I have one of the health conditions today that contributed to his death.
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