A fight to support choice of adoption
The first major effort to promote awareness of the need for adoptive families for children in the foster care system occurred in Massachusetts.
In 1976, then-Gov. Mike Dukakis started the first major effort to promote adoption awareness by proclaiming "Adoption Week."
The same year, President Gerald Ford made the first "National Adoption Week" proclamation, and in 1990, this popular week was expanded to a month due to the number of states participating and the number of awareness events held.
Across the nation, thousands of individuals celebrate adoption as a positive way to build families.
"National Adoption Day," traditionally a Saturday, is observed in courthouses across the nation as thousands of adoptions are finalized simultaneously.
It was for that worthy purpose that the Illinois Choose Life License Plate Committee was formed. Funds generated from the sale of these tags will support adoption services throughout Illinois.
As of May, 19 states have approved Choose Life specialty license plates. Seventeen of these states already provide plates for purchase, with Florida having the most on the road.
A recent setback by the Illinois Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against this specialty tag, claiming that there is a difference between "content and viewpoint discrimination."
The court effectively ruled that content discrimination is not a First Amendment violation because the state can choose to exclude the "entire subject of abortion."
The next step for the Illinois Choose Life Committee is to bring this matter before the U.S. Supreme Court.
Other states have proven that the First Amendment right to free speech always wins out! "Viewpoint discrimination" loses! We expect the people of Illinois will soon be purchasing an Illinois Choose Life License Plate because "Adoption is Always the Right Choice!"
Arlene Sawicki
South Barrington