So, are you adopted?

Statistics tell us there are well over 250,000 Australians affected through adoption.  This simply means that from these 250,000 people, they are either adopted, adoptive parents, birth parents or members of families who have had adoption associated within thier lives.

I'm am just one little voice in this obviously very big ocean of adoption, and yes I find it kind of daunting that 44 years (almost 45) since my adoption took place that the issue does and will always continue to play a major role in my life as well as my opinions.  Many adoptees will not want for others to know about the fact they are adopted due to the fear of judgement placed on them or their families; but why in the age we live in - in today's society, do people continue to have this false belief about adopted people?

I don't know how many times I have heard people refer to adopted people as having hang-ups in life, that their families are not their real families.  I will always remember a remark that came from a cousin of mine at the funeral of my brother, who said 'oh well he wasn't your real brother.'  Well! I guess that's okay then, that because he wasn't my real brother I obviously wasn't affected as much as someone who perhaps lost a brother who wasn't adopted? Some people just don't get it.  Whether you are adopted or not, your family is your family, your parents are your parents and your brothers and sisters are just that - nothing less, ever.

Our society and quite obviously even our own extended families just don't seem to always get it.  Adoption doesn't spell less love, less family, less importance.  Adopted people are still people with feelings, their parents hold as higher aspirations for thier children as parents with natural children, I can tell you this from experience.  I don't wish for my natural born son to have better opportunities in life than my adopted daughter - I wish that both my children have equal successes in life.

I'ts truly time for society to understand the complexities of adoption, to know what the real issues are that adoptees face and why.  I know I hate listening to silly jokes made by people about adoption, that their misinformed opinion is then transferred to an audience who have just as lesser idea of what is being communicated, yet take every word as gospal.

Australian adoption issues have been left in the dark for far too long and advocates such as Deborra-lee Furness are much needed to help erase the false stigma surrounded in our countries adoption matters.
For more info. on how to get involved contact http://www.adoptionawarenessweek.com.au/