Lynn Grubb

A while ago, I received the following email after Beth McCrea found my Paradox  post at Lost Daughters: "I would like to ask your permission to use your poem in our presentation to our provincial premier as we meet to discuss open records. I am one of the founding members of COARnb (Coalition for Open Adoption Records in New Brunswick) and we have been invited to meet with our Premier (Governor) in February. We are working with Sen. D'Allesandro of NH and Paule Benoit of ME. So many of our sons and daughters were adopted to the New England states and all over the US. We are fighting hard to give them their Chapter One, which is rightfully theirs." I was flattered but I didn't think much would come of it. I mean, it's just a poem. However, I knew this person was as passionate as I am about adoptee rights (and even more impressive because she is not adopted herself) but I didn't think my poem would be any big deal when it came to changing ...

There is a bill that was drafted by Sen. Lyle Hillyard ( R. Utah ) - SB155 - that would provide a mechanism to make open adoption agreements enforceable.   The intent behind the legislation is to initially effect foster-to-adopt families, but I strongly believe that it should also include private domestic infant adoption.  See article here . Not surprisingly, the NCFA (National Council for Adoption) is against this legislation. They are the number one opposer of adoptee rights, so it’s not a big stretch to see they don’t care about original families having continued contact with their children. David Hardy, a past president of the Utah Adoption Council, said there is no consensus on the issue among adoptive parents and he goes on to say: "There's certainly concern we're cheapening the parental relationship if you have an enforceable agreement.” Cheapening the parental relationship?  I think what he really means is adoptive par...

Kenny Loggins and me in 2011 I really don't know why I've waited so long to blog about Kenny Loggins because he is  my number one favorite musical artist.  And it's not because he is handsome (which he obviously is) and it's not because he wrote and performed Footloose (because he did), it's because of his deep understanding of human emotions. I don't believe Kenny has any connection to adoption; however there are many adoption themes in his music.  Over the years of listening to his music (not to mention the four times I've seen him in concert), I've come to realize that his story is everybody's story and that is what makes him wonderful.  I've always admired Kenny's ability to be honest, and speak his truth, even if the truths weren't popular. One of my dearest friends, placed her daughter for adoption and she said every time she hears Forever by Kenny Loggins, she cries.  I have listened to it and studied the lyrics and I would...

My original birth certificate  I woke up this morning thinking about how the state stole my birthright and I felt indignant.   This is not anything new, for those of you who know that I participate in Adoptee Rights; but I have, as of late, been thinking about it in a new way. The state of Illinois, with all its wisdom and power, hid from me for 40 years of my life, my God-given human right to know my mother’s name.  And the state of Illinois got away with this injustice by using faulty laws that violated my due process rights.  What is due process?  A right that every United States citizen has.  Let’s look at some definitions: "No person shall be deprived of life, liberty, property or of any right granted him by statute, unless matter involved first shall have been adjudicated against him upon trial conducted according to established rules regulating judicial proceedings, and it forbids condemnation without a hearin...