Demonstrators rally in Greenwich for adoptee rights

Barbara Montgomery of Norwalk holds up a sign reading "My son has a right to know his birth mother," during a rally by Access Connecticut in support of changing state law to restore the right for adult adoptees born in Connecticut to obtain their original birth certificates, in front of the YMCA of Greenwich, Saturday afternoon, Nov. 12, 2011. Montgomery said she gave her son up for adoption in the 1960s but has since been reunited with him. less Barbara Montgomery of Norwalk holds up a sign reading "My son has a right to know his birth mother," during a rally by Access Connecticut in support of changing state law to restore the right for adult adoptees ... more Photo: Bob Luckey Photo: Bob Luckey Image 1 of / 6 Caption Close Demonstrators rally in Greenwich for adoptee rights 1 / 6 Back to Gallery

GREENWICH -- A group that wants to change a law that prohibits adopted children from seeing their original birth certificate held an information rally Saturday.

"This is a human rights issue," said Paul Schibbelhute, one of the seven demonstrators in front of the YMCA of Greenwich on East Putnam Avenue. "Every adoptee should have the same right as anyone else to get a copy of their original birth certificate."

Schibbelhute and like-minded supporters stood by the road holding signs to attract the attention of drivers and pedestrians.

The event was organized by Access Connecticut, a group that is lobbying to overturn 1974 legislation that prevents adoptees from seeing their original birth certificates, said Schibbelhute, 56, legislative coordinator for Access Connecticut.

The New Hampshire resident is vice president and New England regional director of the American Adoption Congress. In 1977, Schibbelhute and his college girlfriend gave up their child for adoption.

"We certainly weren't going to be married and the best thing to do was to place him for adoption," he said. The parents have since been reunited with their son.

There are practical reasons for adoptees to see their original birth certificate, a woman who attended the event said.

Barbara Montgomery, a Norwalk resident who gave birth to her son in 1965 at the age of 19, said amended birth certificates are created for adoptees after they are adopted.

She argues that allowing them to see the original birth certificate, which may contain the names of the adoptees' birth parents, could help them learn more about their medical history.

"My son had a right to know his medical history, the disease that killed his birth grandfather at 37 and nearly killed me at 40," she said. "He had that right. The medical history is very important."

She was reunited with her son nearly 10 years ago.

Laws have been passed in New Hampshire, Maine and Rhode Island allowing adoptees to see their original birth certificates, and the adoption group has been lobbying Connecticut officials to do the same, Schibbelhute said.

They have also staged information sessions at the Durham Fair in September and outside a UConn football game, he said.

Schibbelhute said there has been some opposition by organizations concerned that allowing adoptees to see their original birth certificate could lead to familial conflicts as they find out more information about their birth parents.

"All of these people who think the sky is going to fall, it is just craziness," he said. "It's not."

Staff Writer Frank MacEachern can be reached at frank.macechern@scni.com or 203-625-4434.