CV NEWS FEED // In a show of bipartisan support, lawmakers in Oregon’s House of Representatives unanimously passed a bill April 8 that, if approved, would declare Aug. 25 to be “Oregon Adoption Day” to honor and celebrate children and parents impacted by adoption.
Oregon Right to Life reported that House Bill 2019 is sponsored by Republican Rep. Lucetta Elmer, herself an adoptee. The date proposed for Adoption Day is the day that she was adopted as a baby.
According to Elmer, the bill will create a “moment of acknowledgment for the thousands of Oregonians, children, birth parents, adoptive families, and support systems who walk through the transformative journey of adoption.”
She added that establishing Oregon Adoption Day will send “a message to every adopted child in the state: You are seen. You are loved. And you matter.”
Oregon Right to Life reported that several other lawmakers shared personal stories of their own experiences with adoption. Some had been adopted themselves, others had adopted children, and others had family members who were adopted. Republican Rep. Virgle Osborne additionally praised women who chose to give birth to their babies rather than choose abortion, even in difficult circumstances.
Born in 1968, Osborn is the child of a biracial couple, which was controversial at the time, Oregon Right to Life reported. His mother didn’t tell his father that she was pregnant, and moved from Arizona to Oregon to give birth to Osborn.
“Although some people might call it cowardly that she left and went to another place and had me, she could’ve had an abortion,” Osborne said. “She chose not to have an abortion. And now, I get to be here with all of my colleagues, every day, enjoying this great session, because I was born and not aborted.”
Oregon Right to Life noted that the pro-life Adoption Day bill comes shortly after Democratic Gov. Tina Kotek signed a proclamation that declared March 10 as “Abortion Provider Appreciation Day.” The proclamation was strongly opposed by pro-life advocates, including Portland Archbishop Alexander Sample.
According to the Oregon State Legislature, the bill is currently being reviewed by the Senate.
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