To the Editor:

I read with dismay Carolyn Signorelli's glowing endorsement of Tony Hwang for State Senate. Ms. Signorelli, you're most likely not an adult adoptee. If you were, then you might know that Hwang's support for children, if they were adopted, ends abruptly when they become adults.

Tony Hwang has consistently voted against civil rights – equal rights – for Connecticut adult adoptees. He consistently votes against  original birth certificate access for us adult adoptees.

In 2008 I found my birth family. I went to Catholic Charities and met my (full) birth sister. We learned we went to grammar school together and had grown up six blocks apart! Yet when we asked the social worker for our parents names, which she had in our file in her hand, she said, “I'm sorry, but I can't tell you who you are. The State of Connecticut won't allow me.”

What an outrage. We Connecticut adult adoptees are not allowed to know our identities, yet the State of Connecticut allows total strangers to know who we are.

I also learned of an older (full) birth brother, long deceased. He died of heart disease at 40. Heart disease is genetic. Both of our birth parents also had heart disease, yet Tony Hwang doesn't think I should be allowed to have this critical information about my own body!

Taxpayers, think of the added insurance costs you pay for every adoptee illness which might have been prevented, had we known our medical history!

Hwang has consistently voted against adult adoptee civil rights: 1) Right to know our heritage: whose blood flows in our veins. 2)  Right to know our parental/family health information. 3)  Right to obtain a US Passport. Since 9/11 an original birth certificate is needed to obtain a passport. 

Hwang doesn't believe Connecticut adult adoptees deserve the same rights that every non-adopted citizen of Connecticut enjoys.

When Hwang comes to your door asking for your vote, ask him this: “Why do you prohibit adult adoptees from knowing their identity and their health history?  Terrorists can enter this country and yet you have refused Connecticut adult adoptees their legal right to a passport!” Why?

Then wait for his answer.

Public Act 14-133, a bill granting adult adoptees born after 1983 rights to their original birth certificates and parental health information was signed into law this 2014 session … no thanks to Tony Hwang, but many thanks to Kim Fawcett, his opponent. She voted Yes. We will continue to fight until all adoptees have rights.

Newtown or no town in Connecticut can afford to elect an anti-civil rights legislator; one who does not believe in equality for all citizens. I pay taxes, yet I am denied my full rights because I am an adoptee. Enough of Tony Hwang and any others of this ilk.

In November, vote for Kim Fawcett. She supports civil rights for all Connecticut citizens. What an amazing idea.

Carol Hudak

Daniels Farm Road, Trumbull September 18, 2014