71.   Officials felt they were equivalent to biological parents, because they represented the only stable, loving family the boy had ever known.

72.   Or perhaps it reflected differences in legal philosophy between other states and California, where the law is weighted overwhelmingly in favor of the biological parent.

73.   Or they are wards of the state, living with foster families while social workers decide whether to return them to their biological parents.

74.   Professor Woodhouse said that more flexible provisions would have also recognized the needs of older adopted children who might want to retain some contact with their biological parents.

75.   Rila said she opposed visitation by the grandparents because they represent the biological parents who have harmed the children.

76.   She and other advocates of opening records argue that search is a healthy process that helps adoptees, and often biological parents, cope with identity and separation issues.

77.   She has disowned her daughter because of her drug addiction and the grandson she adopted has never seen either biological parent.

78.   She noted that the boy has already lived in two foster homes and two shelters since he was taken from his biological parents.

79.   Shortly before his death, Gaye admitted the child was adopted, though he dodged questions about the biological parents.

80.   Simpson and Jobs decline to discuss the circumstances that led their biological parents to put Steve up for adoption.