Actress Kerry Washington is preparing to be part of a TV show that looks at people’s ancestry, helping them identify their ancestry and better understand where they came from. But, as he talks to his parents about getting DNA samples from them, he notices that they start looking for ways to avoid it. They were evasive, and seemed to want her to refuse to participate in the show.
Unbeknownst to Washington at the time, they felt that way because they used a sperm donor to get her, and kept it a secret. They probably didn’t tell him, but eventually they had to. DNA results confirmed that the man she had known as her father all her life was not biologically related to her. Now she is writing a book about her experience, and the struggles and emotions that come with the discovery.
In the end, Washington chose not to continue with the show, which was called off Finding Your Roots. But he has the DNA information he needs to learn more about his biological family. Her parents didn’t tell her the truth until she was in her 40s, and now she’s searching for the missing piece of her biological puzzle. He loves his parents, and is not trying to find a “father” in a sperm donor. But he wants to know more about who he is, and where he came from.
His parents didn’t feel comfortable telling him about the sperm donation option, which wasn’t much discussed at the time they decided to go down that route of starting their family. However, they decide to tell him because he might say something is wrong when he wants to get DNA information for the show. With her parents acting strangely and being quarrelsome, it’s easy to see that there are issues she’s not aware of.
Now that he knows the truth, he says he doesn’t have much emotional attachment to finding a donor. As much as he wanted to, he didn’t spend much time thinking about it. However, he admitted that he might feel differently if he ever met them in person.
The donation contracts we write for our clients are comprehensive and in-depth. We also help parents through the paternity determination process, which can be scary and confusing. Contact us today to learn more!
