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Adoptee Rights Issues, History and Law

Most adult adoptees in the U.S. and Canada are denied legal access to their own original birth records and adoption decree. This is not the case in many places around the world. In the U.S. and Canada Influential adoption industry lobbyists perpetuate bizarre notions of a beneficial “permanent anonymity” imposed on all in the adoption experience so as to protect their ability to continue acting as a completely unaccountable industry – something unique to the adoption industry.

Start learning about your rights, the history of the movement, and the law, and about the variety of complex issues involved in adult adoptee access to personal government documents.

Start here: The Basic Bastard — This collection of short articles address the main issues and questions regarding Bastard Nation and adoptee rights.

Local Laws, Activism and Contacts – covering the U.S., Canada and internationally.

State Adoption Disclosure Laws at a Glance

Bastard Nation Position Papers

These papers cover related issues more in depth and can be printed out for use in local public education or legislative campaigns.

Bastard Nation’s Mission Statement
From The Basic Bastard:
- Part I: Open Records: Why It’s an Issue
- Part V: Conditional Access Legislation
- Part VIII: Legalized Anonymous Infant Abandonment / Safe Haven Laws
- Part IX: Do Birthparents Have A Right to Privacy?
Open Records: Good for Adoptive Families
Model Open Records Legislation
On Legalized Anonymous Infant Abandonment / Safe Haven Laws:
On Conditional Access Legislation:
- Sample Resolution Against Vetoes
- Letter to Connecticut Law Revision Commission on Sealed Adoption Records
The Intermediary System is Not the Solution
National Reunion Registries
A resolution of the Executive Committee, submitted as testimony to the U.S. House of representatives June 1998.
The Hague Convention
A resolution of the Executive Committee. See also, from earliest to most recent:
- Testimony on S.682 submitted to U.S. Senate Committee Oct. 1999
- Testimony on HR.2909 submitted to U.S. Congressional Committee Oct. 1999
- Supplementary Testimony on HR.2909 submitted to U.S. Congressional Committee Nov. 1999
- Statement urging ratification of HR 2909 based on removal of anti-adoptee language from HR 2909. Link to text of 3/16/00 version of HR 2909 March 2000
- Comments on Intercountry Adoption Act of 2000: Proposed Rules for Federal implementation of the Hague Convention
Letter to Hon. Bertie Ahern, Department of the Taoiseach, Ireland supporting the call of the Magdalene Memorial Committee to further investigate the scandal of the Magdalene Laundries.
Bastard Nation Statement – Victory in New Hampshire!
Bowling for Babies: Bastard Nation’s Response to 20/20’s Be My Baby Ad Campaign

History of Adoptee Rights and efforts to open records

Who We Are: the History of Bastard Nation

Sealed Records and Adoption Reform: An Historical Perspective

The Uniform Adoption Act of 1994:

The Uniform Adoption Act of 1994 – Overview and Statements

– individuals and organizations opposing open adoption records

Adoptive parents groups and adoptee rights groups agree that the adoption industry lobby benefits from permanently sealed records and the nonaccountability it provides.