Saturday, May 7, 2011

Gail Jerson's letter to the Governor

The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo
Governor of New York State
NYS State Capitol Building
Albany, NY 12224


Dear Governor Cuomo,

As an adoptee born in New York, I ask you to support NYS Adoption Reform legislation S1438/A2003. Please help move this bill to the floor for a vote. It is paramount that all adoptees are given the same basic human rights and ability to plan a secure future, as any other non-adopted human being. But at this point, we cannot do that without knowing if our health is in jeopardy or the health of our children and grandchildren. Our origins and heritage are kept secret because the government keeps this information sealed from the adoptee who has committed no crime. So why are we not able to ensure the health of our families, the way all other citizens of this country can do?

Unrestricted open records for adult adoptees is the norm in most of the rest of the free world. Adoptees should have a right to access the records of their birth in the same manner as any other citizen of this nation. Why do we have to continue living with the unknown simply because we were adopted and are governed by antiquated laws that desperately need to be changed? New York's sealed records law dates back to 1935 when Governor Herbert Lehman signed it into law, perhaps believing it was in the best interests of his three adopted children. However times and attitudes have changed. We all have a moral obligation to look at historical judgments and correct them if they were made in violation of personal rights.

For many, the future is blind without sight of the past. Everyone needs to know where they came from, their origins, their history, their racial and ethnic background, who their mothers and fathers are, and of paramount importance, potentially life-saving medical information. Denying this information is not only an injustice and a denial of a basic human right, but it is immoral and unconscionable.

I was diagnosed with breast cancer 12 ½ years ago. That diagnosis fueled an already burning flame in me to seek out information about my history and birth family. I knew from ‘non-identifying’ information given to me by the adoption agency that my maternal grandmother had passed away at a very young age from a serious undisclosed illness. Did she die of breast cancer? Did my mother also have breast cancer during her life? I would never know because there were no updated medical records available to me. I have 2 children who deserve to know if there have been THREE generations of breast cancer before them.

After countless years of utilizing every available means that NYS had to offer to try and locate my biological information, and $4,000 later, I was still left with major unanswered health issues and frustration for a system that I felt had let me down. Eventually I learned that my birthmom had died 9 years prior, at only 69 years old. She never had any other children, and all her 4 siblings were also deceased. If the records hadn't been sealed and I had been able to search sooner, I could have found her before she died. I felt saddened, cheated, deprived, and angry due to a system that should have been changed years ago. Sealed records robbed from me something I will never get back. My injuries will always be as fresh as the day I was relinquished, and as fresh as the day I realized the injustice when I began my search 12 ½ years ago. My wound thrives on being kept fresh by those who deny me my rights as a human being. The passing of NYS Adoption Reform legislation (S1438/A2003) addresses that violation of human rights.

Cordially,

Gail Jerson

2 comments:

Lorraine Dusky said...

Great Letter!

The more the merrier.

Unknown said...

Britain s Road Blockade for justice July 24th 10am London M25
Meet up 1 South Mimms Services meet up 2 M1 toddington services
https://www.facebook.com/events/245254805647244/245509018955156/?notif_t=plan_mall_activity FB EVENT PAGE

Dear Sir,Madam, Andy Peacher 07827731060 freedomtalkradio2013@gmail.com
www.childrenscreamingtobeheard.com

This little girl is asking for help WHY should a child have to beg adults for help we the families should be in our thousands on the 24th July 2014 at the M25 Blockade to support all of the children "screaming to be heard" who are "the silent witnesses" in the care system we have 10.000 kids running away from abuse of the system are they running back home NO because many kids in care are told my the system YOUR families do not want you and I Maggie Tuttle know this to be true after interviewing in the early hours of the mornings the homeless kids living on the streets of London begging and for many who are picked up and trafficked prostituted murdered their little bodies sold for science pedophiles abusing them. Only we the Nation and families who have lost children can put a stop to the abuse and to the multibillion pound Child industry which states ahhaha "IN A CHILD'S BEST INTEREST" I hope to see you all on the 24th July 2014.

Can you help me and thousands of children and their families to send out a clear message to those in authority that stealing britains children from loving homes will not be tolerated any more.
We are loosing our kids on the future risk of emotional harm lies in files judges looking the other way its a billion pound industry.
In a lot of cases education support and advice would stop these children going in to care i urge you to support the blockade the police in 3 counties have given me a protest liason officer.
The Evidence is below we want you to read the articles below this is what main stream media are saying and the serving mp john hummings and daily telegraph journalist.
We want you to join the blockade through any means possible tractors cars lorries bikes
This is a road blockade for justice.
www.childrenscreamingtobeheard.com Evidence Here
John Hemmings Mp http://youtu.be/LZMy2H8QZSE http://youtu.be/2PaCE_jTZSk

Christopher booker Telegraph http://youtu.be/mUYBgGzxWCo

Contact me now with your ideas

Andy 07827731060 01469510558
freedomtalkradio2013@gmail.com

The Police in 3 counties are working with us for the safety for all.

PLEASE GOOGLE CHILD STEALING BY THE STATE IN THE MAIN STREAM MEDIA.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-2128987/Children-stolen-state.html
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/10486452/Child-taken-from-womb-by-caesarean-then-put-into-care.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2510371/Britains-130-000-absent-dads-One-fathers-lose-contact-children-earlier-relationships.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1371704/Grandparents-legal-right-access-grandchildren-divorce.html