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www.cubirthparents.org
For Lee Campbell's fourth appearance in April 1984 on the nationally syndicated "Donahue" Show, she joins host Phil Donahue to focus on birthmothers who "change their minds" and "try to get their babies back" after surrendering them for adoption.
Donahue speaks first to birthmother Barbara Landry, who recently surrendered her daughter for adoption to the Gladney Center for Adoption, in Texas, which also houses women during their pregnancies. Although Barbara Landry immediately revoked her consent, she says she is in a legal fight to try to reclaim her motherhood.
Patricia Bennett is interviewed next. She reveals how she surrendered in 1983, sued to revoke her consent, and was able to retrieve her baby.
Austin Foster, Ph.D, represents the Gladney Center for Adoption. He offers a different perspective. He is pro birthfamily-separation. He emphasizes adoption is a "choice" that mothers have "nine months to decide."
The late Bill Pierce, the first Executive Director of the National Committee (now Council) for Adoption (NCFA), defends the adoption industry against Phil Donahue's claim that "there is money in (Landry's) adoption." Mr. Pierce counters that the counseling received by mothers served by adoption agencies is better than what mothers receive in private adoptions.
Lee Campbell, founder of Concerned United Birthparents (CUB), warns that a pro-adoption stance is entrenched in the United States, and that the increased demand for adoption is leading to more forced adoptions, unethical practices, and the unnecessary separation of families.
Phil Donahue adds that a couple things should get on the record about the Landry situation. He says the Gladney Home is, not surprisingly, "professionally interested in this case because, if they lose, they face the very real problem of no one . . . trusting them (to protect against mothers who try to retrieve their babies)."
Some Final Words About the "Donahue" tapes. As was the case with Lee Campbell's previous appearances on "Donahue," thousands of letters poured into CUB's main address, which was superimposed by the producers on viewers' television screens. The number of "Donahue" letter-writers were not separated from those who wrote letters after CUB's many other radio, televised, and print media coverage. But it is interesting to note that during CUB's first eight years, CUB's National Secretary, Gail Hanssen Perry, and other volunteers, responded overall to more than 45,000 letters.
After taking a random sample of letters at one point, CUB learned more about those who wrote. Half the letter writers were birthparents, who were grateful that some of their own were telling "their" stories. About 40% were adoptees, who now realized they not only were remembered but were probably still longed for. And, the remaining letter writers were adoptive parents, other members of birth or adoptive families, and adoption professionals.
Today, Lee Campbell, now almost 70 years old and a recently retired college professor, wants to add another thought: "CUB very much appreciated Phil Donahue and its producers for inviting birthparents to move from the shadows where we had been relegated. 'Donahue' provided a' soft, safe spotlight where we were able to reveal some hidden truths about adoption. Looking back, it is literally a crying shame that indifference among too many in the general population continues to sweep these truths into the mists of history."
About Concerned United Birthparents (CUB).
Founded by Lee Campbell in 1976, CUB is the first, and the longest-lasting, organization in the world to support and advocate for mothers and fathers who lost children to the adoption industry. Along with CUB's ongoing focus on birthparents, today's CUB serves everyone affected by adoption. CUB believes that when feelings and experiences hidden behind adoption's façade are exposed, healing and wisdom follow.
On its website, CUB also makes available to members and eligible professionals more than 4,000 pages of its history. Meanwhile, Lee Campbell has captured some of this history in two books available on Amazon. "Stow Away: They told me to forget. And I did. Now my memory has mutiny in mind" and "Cast Off: They called us dangerous women. So we organized and proved them right."