Adoptive Parents: A Lesson for the Trans Community

Adoption: A Rollercoaster of Emotions

Imagine a couple in their late thirties who, after years of struggling with infertility and navigating the complex adoption process, finally adopt a newborn baby girl they name Julia. They quickly form a strong bond with Julia, considering themselves incredibly fortunate. However, their joy is short-lived when they receive a call from the adoption agency informing them that Julia's birth mother has decided to revoke her consent to the adoption. This is a right granted to birth parents in California, where the couple resides, and in British Columbia. The birth mother wants Julia back, and the couple is left heartbroken.

A Different Scenario

In another scenario, a woman gives birth to a baby boy, unsure of who the father is. She decides to put the baby up for adoption and posts a notice on Facebook. An interested couple steps forward and the adoption process begins. However, one of the woman's previous partners sees the Facebook post, recognizes similarities between himself and the baby, and requests a DNA test. The test confirms his paternity. According to legal information site HG.org, he may have the right to claim custody of the child, disrupting the adoption process.

Adoptive Parents: A Unique Class

Adoptive parents often experience intense emotions when a birth parent changes their mind and disrupts the adoption process. Despite the legal recognition of adoptive parents as full parents, most jurisdictions allow biological parents to reconsider their decision for a limited time after the birth. This is a difficult process for adoptive parents, but it also recognizes the potential trauma to adoptees and respects the biological parent-child bond. Adoptive parents understand that they are not exactly the same as biological parents. They are a unique class with their own set of challenges and victories. They accept this reality and learn to deal with it.

Trans Rights and Reality

Trans rights activists, however, have not made the same concessions to reality. Despite significant legal victories, including the recognition of gender identity and protection from discrimination, trans activists continue to demand more. They insist on being recognized as women and having the same rights and protections as women who have lived their entire lives in a woman's body. This insistence often conflicts with the rights of natal women.

The Balance of Rights

Balancing conflicting rights is a complex task that lawmakers and judges must undertake on a case-by-case basis. Trans activists, however, reject this notion of balance. They insist that they are women, not a type of woman, and should be treated as such in all circumstances.

Claiming Embodied Experiences

Trans activists also claim women's embodied experiences for themselves. For example, some trans women simulate menstruation and even use machines to mimic period pain. Others insist that they actually experience menstruation, despite lacking a uterus. Some trans women also seek to experience breastfeeding, despite potential health risks associated with the drugs used to induce lactation.

Adoptive Parents and Reality

Unlike trans activists, adoptive parents generally accept reality. While they may have desired to experience pregnancy and childbirth, they understand that life does not always go as planned. They accept the unique challenges and joys of adoptive parenting, understanding that they cannot always get what they want.

Bottom Line

The trans community could learn valuable lessons from adoptive parents. Accepting reality and understanding that life does not always go as planned are key parts of the adoptive parent experience. What are your thoughts on this perspective? Share this article with your friends and join the conversation. Don't forget to sign up for the Daily Briefing, which is available every day at 6 pm.