What Next? The Adoptee Rights Podcast

21: Truth and Reconciliation

Greg talks with Jennifer Kwon Dobbs and Ryan Gustafsson---two Korean-born transnational adoptees, scholars, and advocates---about their cases (and other cases) before the South Korean Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Jennifer and Ryan discuss their own personal experiences as well as what is meant by truth and reconciliation, not only in a global context but more specifically in the context of problematic and illicit intercountry adoptions from Korea. About Greg's Guests Ryan Gustafsson [https://www.ryangustafsson.com/] is a researcher in the Faculty of Arts at the University of Melbourne. Trained in continental philosophy (phenomenology) and social theory, they conduct research on Korean overseas adoption, transracial adoptee lived experiences, migration, and diaspora. Ryan is the co-founder of the Philosophies of Difference (PoD) group and the Korean Adoptee Adoption Research Network (KAARN), which organize open-to-public seminars and symposia. Their nonfiction writing has appeared in literary outlets including Sydney Review of Books, Liminal Magazine, Peril Magazine, Island Magazine, and others. Born in Wonju, Republic of Korea, Jennifer Kwon Dobbs [https://www.jkwondobbs.com/] is the author of Interrogation Room (White Pine Press, 2018); Paper Pavilion (White Pine, 2007), winner of the White Pine Press Poetry Prize; and the chapbooks Notes from a Missing Person (Essay Press, 2015) and Necro Citizens (German/English edition, hochroth Verlag, 2019). Interrogation Room received mention in The New York Times, was praised by World Literature Today for “a vigorous restlessness,” and won the Association of Asian American Studies Award in Creative Writing: Poetry. She also co-translates Sámi poetry with poet-scholar Johanna Domokos, and their translation of Niillas Holmberg’s Juolgevuođđu, published as Underfoot (White Pine Press, 2022), received the American-Scandinavian Foundation’s Lief and Inger Sjöberg Prize. She is professor of English and Race, Ethnic, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at St. Olaf College and lives in Minnesota. Additional Links/Resources * The Korean Truth and Reconciliation Commission [https://www.jinsil.go.kr/en/bbm/bbs/selectBoardArticleView.do?nttId=23429] * Recent AP Report and Frontline Documentary: South Korea's Adoption Reckoning [https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/documentary/south-koreas-adoption-reckoning/] * Danish Korean Rights Group [https://danishkorean.dk/] (DKRG) * Reports from the Netherlands, France, and Switzerland on Intercountry Adoption [https://adopteesunited.org/tag/research-reports/]

20: Rescission - A Conversation about Ending Your Own Adoption

Greg talks with Chelsey, a US-born adult adopted person who for years has been seeking to end her own adoption, and for good reason. They discuss her story and reasons, the various legal issues surrounding the rescission of an adoption, and the ongoing Adoptees United project [https://adopteesunited.org/rescission/] that has led to a definition of terms and to a draft model bill [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1tnhD6AU4KyjAQuEN4j5DvBqoZI5xRQ2wCENq9L0BkSU/edit?usp=sharing] that would establish a right as an adult to end your own adoption. More information about the Rescission Project and its collective efforts are on Adoptees United [https://adopteesunited.org/rescission/]. Greg's prior overview of the issue is on his law firm website [https://adopteerightslaw.com/annulment/], though efforts have progressed since he published the initial post a few years ago. Support our work and conversations on the podcast by contributing to Adoptees United [https://adopteesunited.org/donate], a national nonprofit organization working to educate and empower adopted people and to challenge and change the dominant narrative of adoption.

19: Kara Bos - Dual Citizenship

Greg and CS talk with Korean-born and US transnational adoptee Kara Bos about her efforts to reclaim her Korean citizenship, lost to her when she was four years of age and adopted to the United States. Her efforts included the first successful paternity action in Korea to establish paternity with her Korean biological father. The conversation is part of an Adoptees United event, Dual Citizenship for Transnational Adoptees, recorded on April 10, 2024, and available now on YouTube [https://youtu.be/V__-EGEupRg]. Follow and subscribe to What Next? The Adoptee Rights Podcast, and keep us going with a tax-deductible donation at adopteesunited.org/donate [https://adopteesunited.org/donate/].

18: Lobbying - With Annette O'Connell and Shawna Hodgson

Greg speaks with Annette O'Connell [https://adopteesunited.org/about/#annette-oconnell] and Shawna Hodgson [https://adopteesunited.org/about/#shawna-hodgson] about lobbying in state legislatures, plus other (kinda nutty) issues that pop up. As board members of Adoptees United and as advocates in New York and Texas, Annette and Shawna have years of experience in lobbying legislators on birth record bills. They talk about their approach, how hard it is to do this work, and what it may look like in the future. This is the third installment of Legislative Boot Camp [https://adopteesunited.org/legislative-bootcamp/], a series of podcast episodes exploring and explaining how legislatures work as well as how to get a bill enacted (or killed), told within the context of adoptee rights. Support the work of Donate to Adoptees United [https://adopteesunited.org/donate/], which goes toward the making of our podcasts plus supports ongoing programming and projects.

17: Relinquished - With Gretchen Sisson

A conversation with scholar, advocate, researcher and writer Gretchen Sisson, author of the recently published Relinquished: The Politics of Adoption and the Privilege of American Motherhood [https://www.relinquishedbook.com/]. This is the podcast version of our conversation we had before an online audience in March 2024. It has been slightly edited from that event. What Next: The Adoptee Rights Podcast is a production of Adoptees United Inc. [https://adopteesunited.org/], a national nonprofit organization dedicated to the equality of all adopted people. Gregory Luce is the host.