Pledge to Say Place

BraveLove is dedicated to erasing the stigmas surrounding adoption, and it begins with mindfully changing the words we use to talk about it.

Choosing adoption is not about giving up. A birth mother doesn’t “give up” or “put up” her child for adoption. She makes an adoption plan and places her child in a loving home. Do you see the difference?

In the nineteenth century, orphan children were transported westward from the overcrowded cities of the eastern United States. The term “put up” was coined to describe the process in which these children would step up onto a platform and wait to be selected by a family for adoption.

The adoption process today is nothing like it was two hundred years ago – why should the language be?

Will you join with us and pledge to say "place" by signing your name? Your pledge means the following:

I will no longer say "give up" or "put up for adoption.”
I better understand the purpose, planning, and love behind a birth mother’s decision to choose adoption.
Today I pledge to say “place.”

Have you already pledged? Take a moment to spread the word to your friends by posting this graphic on your social media of choice and link to bravelove.org/sayplace

1,415 PLEDGES

5,000 pledges

Look who's signing

Recent Activity

Clarosa Kopacki signed 2021-10-13 12:50:05 -0500
Erin Lukasiewicz signed 2021-10-13 12:38:01 -0500
Pam Hoehler signed 2021-10-13 12:22:24 -0500
Kathleen O’Herren-Huston signed 2021-10-13 12:18:56 -0500

100% yes! As both an Adoptee and Adoptive mom, I cringe when I read an article still referring to adoption as “giving up.” I pledge to educate my peers.
Barbara (Babs) Kohut signed 2021-10-13 12:14:20 -0500

Great site !!!
Kim Sellers signed 2021-10-13 12:01:47 -0500

I am a birth mom. I pledge to say place. I am also the director at a pregnancy resource center. I pledge to train my volunteers to say place.
Mary Caler signed 2021-10-13 11:59:43 -0500

Thank you for this important work!
Kathleen O’Herren-Huston followed this page 2021-10-13 11:57:11 -0500
Chris Huston signed 2021-10-13 11:48:17 -0500
Rachel Cook signed 2021-10-13 11:46:39 -0500

Fellow Loving Birth Mother
Maria Greskowiak signed 2021-10-13 11:38:39 -0500
Emily Miller signed 2021-10-13 11:38:30 -0500
Renae Petersen signed 2021-10-13 11:31:46 -0500
Hope Dupuy signed 2021-10-13 11:24:08 -0500
Katie Zamot signed 2021-10-13 11:13:58 -0500

Love this pledge! Its helpful to educate those who just don’t know the correct words to say.
Elizabeth Zeglin signed 2021-10-13 11:10:26 -0500
Jennifer Gathje signed 2021-10-13 11:09:14 -0500
Tonya Nice signed 2021-10-13 10:57:54 -0500
Jamie Kwiatkowski signed 2021-10-13 10:51:46 -0500
Andrea Childs signed 2021-10-12 21:56:27 -0500
Ambrosia Kane signed 2021-10-11 12:45:15 -0500
Desiree Huffnagle signed 2021-10-11 10:38:03 -0500

I pledge to use positive adoption language, and understand the purpose, planning, and love behind a birth mother’s decision to choose adoption.
Monica Stoffal signed 2021-10-10 23:47:34 -0500

My child was adopted so many years ago, in 1972, just before Roe V Wade – so, so much has changed. Before I ever knew there was a shift in social thinking about adoption, I’d made a commitment to speak the release of my child without shame, and instead, with words that are closer to pride. But I am dubious about this word, “pride.” I did not give this child to a warm loving family out of the goodness of my heart – I gave him a better life because it was the right thing to do for me at the time (13, impregnated though incest). What did I know of abortion? Very, very little. My decision was not brave – it was essential. And the loss still hurts very much…let’s pledge to make the language of adoption positive and realistic. Let’s also tell the truth about the loss…
Dawn Trahin signed 2021-10-10 18:16:12 -0500
Kelly Thompson signed 2021-10-10 02:55:16 -0500
Vicki Mason signed 2021-10-09 11:27:14 -0500

Today my birth daughter… thanked me that I did not choose abortion over having her and placing her for adoption…. She said this with love.
Laura Erickson signed 2021-10-09 11:00:44 -0500

I’ve used the word placed since I made my adoption plan and will continue to do so! This mindful word change is so important.
AmyJo Pleune signed 2021-10-09 07:34:53 -0500

I am an adoptive mother and openly model, teach and support this language, along with the word, “gift”, both in a professional and personal capacity wherever the conversation finds me. It’s time to build the beauty of adoption.
Michelle Goraj signed 2021-10-09 05:51:38 -0500

Michelle Goraj
Michelle Martin signed 2021-10-08 23:03:38 -0500