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Florida governor feeling pressure to prove paternity of adopted child
Categories: Adoption
There's a controversy brewing in Florida where a 17-year-old girl's adoptive parents are trying to find out if Governor Charlie Crist is the teenager's biological father.
It seems that the parents have been trying to get in touch with Crist to get more information, but the governor seems reluctant to participate in any kind of communication. It's been reported that he has refused to take a DNA test to prove whether he is indeed the girl's brithfather.
A Florida lawyer has been claiming that she and Crist conceived the child during a one-night stand back in 1989, and that the girl was put up for adoption after her birth. The governor has been saying that this is just a ploy to embarrass him and has denied any involvement.
This is indeed a very sticky situation. However, the question that must be asked is what are the parents and the lawyer trying to prove? Are the parents looking for a financial gain by trying to goad Governor Crist into admitting the paternity of the child? And what exactly is the lawyer's motivation? She placed the child up for adoption, so what is she looking to gain from all of this? Last, but certainly not least, what are the young woman's feelings about all of this? Does she truly want to find out the identity of her biological father, or are other influences forcing this upon her?
Things would certainly be different if Governor Crist was not a public figure. But, at the same time, if Crist wants to put the talk to rest, he might be better off by taking a DNA test or doing something else to prove once and for all that either he is or is not the father of that 17-year-old girl. Consequently, the other parties should state publicly their true intentions so that nothing is left to speculation.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Anonymous 2-01-2007 @ 9:58AM
If the child was put up for adoption, they have no right asking for a paternity test.
Strongarming admission of parenthood in adoption cases seems absolutely unethical to me. He should be able to sue the adopted parents and the lawyer (biomom) for harassment.
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Beth Hyatt 2-01-2007 @ 11:54AM
Every adopted child has a right to know who their biological parents are. Should the Governer be required to take a DNA test? Yes. The child deserves to know one way or the other if he is her father. But even if the test proves he is the biological father, he should not be expected to contribute to the child in any way. I doubt very much that this is about money. After all, her (adoptive) parents are responsible for supporting her. Just as they would not expect support from the birth mother, they should not expect it from the birth father. Birth parents have so much to offer their children. They have information that no one else has. Adopted children deserve to know where they come from and need access to their medical history.
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Jessica 2-01-2007 @ 12:47PM
I may get lambasted for this and I will start by saying that i speak from no experience in the area. Why, please tell me, does an adopted child have the "right" to know who the bio parents are?
I certainly understand the need for medical records and that this aspect is extremely important. And i don't believe any child should be denied access to medical history.
But previous poster sounded so aghast that someone would suggest an adopted child not know who gave them up for adoption. I just want to understand why that is?
What about the right to privacy of the parent who gave the child up? Just playing devil's advocate here, not siding one way or the other, but I simply don't get why their rights aren't just as important as that of the adoptee.
Also, as a FL resident, Crist will never give DNA test unless court ordered. He is arrogant as hell.
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Ginny 2-01-2007 @ 2:01PM
"Also, as a FL resident, Crist will never give DNA test unless court ordered. He is arrogant as hell"
And allegedly gay. Not that there's anything wrong with that.
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Christine 2-01-2007 @ 4:49PM
Well.. of course we are speaking of human rights. And as that goes a person's right to know where they come from and their history should supercede anyone's right to privacy.
Their rights arent as important as the adoptees because the adoptee had absolutely no choice in the matter of their adoption. While presumably the Bio Parent had some choice in something... whether it be the adoption itself or the events leading to the pregnancy (sometimes no one has any choice as in rape)... but over all... the adoptee should not be stripped permanently of their identity and background because someone else deems it so.
Not all want that information... but they should be entitled to it if they do.
Should he have to prove paternity -- well in all actuality he should have had to prior to the adoption so that they knew they were terminating the rights of the correct person.
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Sharon 2-02-2007 @ 4:03PM
Aren't there ways to pass on medical & generic family history to an adoptee, without giving famiy names? And I thought there were rules/laws/whatever that were in place to indicate when a biological parent was willing to be contacted by the child later?
And there are plenty of gay people who have children...
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Emily 2-03-2007 @ 12:40PM
Speaking as an adopted child myself I understand that adopted children have a deep desire to know who their biological pareents are but I don't believe that it is a "right" we have. Biological parents give up their children and all rights to them when putting them up for adoption. They are free of all responsibility and forcing someone to submit to a DNA test to prove paternity is a forcing a kind of responsibility on the biological parent. Shame on the biological mother for putting even suggesting who she thinks the father is and putting him into the public eye.
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Christine 2-06-2007 @ 2:52PM
Um... no sorry... she is not mandated to be in hiding. She can claim the father of her child any time she wants to. Especially since this clearly is an adpotion where information is exchanged. If he wasnt the father he should have excluded himself as the father at the time of that adoption. Reality doesnt change because someone signs a peice of paper. Her life and what occurs in it is still hers to share with whomever she wants. All closed records means is that the state cannot hand over that information. Doesnt mean people cant. Plus, in this sort of case, the parents are seeking out the information for their child which is perfectly acceptable....
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amy 11-11-2007 @ 9:42PM
I am an adopted child of the 60's who would give her right arm to find out who her father is. My biological family doesnt have to go through this. My friends dont have to go through this. Hell, most of the world doesnt have to question who there biological family is. Why do I have to beg(literally) for this information? Its not fair! I could understand the secrecy at the time, but when much time has passed? I think records should be released when the adopted child becomes a certain age. If he/she is still interested at a later date, it is obviously important enough to the individual, and should be released, by all states! I speak from personal experience (and tears in my eyes). PLEASE! Give us a break! To many adult adoptees, the release of information is very, very important. Sometimes for medical information, sometimes for personal reasons. Is this really asking too much? I hate to make the comparison, but you can get more information when you buy a used car or a puppy. Its 2007. Its time to change the law!
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