New York History Made! S3419/A5494 passes Senate 53-6! On to the Assembly!

Bastard Nation: the Adoptee Rights Organization

bastards.org           614-372-5535           @bastardsunite

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Bastard Nation thanks the New York State Senate for supporting

adoptee rights with the passage of S3419A5494/

June 3, 2019. Albany New York

Bastard Nation, the Adoptee Rights Organization is delighted that the New York Senate has passed. S3419/A5494 The bill restores the right of Original Birth Certificate (OBC) access to all the state’s adoptees without restriction or condition– a right once held by New York adoptees.

For over 80 years New York’s adoptees have endured a humiliating, frustrating, costly, and rarely successful process when they request their Original Birth Certificates. The state’s access system, established when Franklin D Roosevelt was president, is clearly antiquated, illogical, and discriminatory, and keeps nearly all adoptees unable to acquire their own OBC The current law sends a message that adoption and adoptees are shameful secrets.

S3419/A5494/ recognizes the absurdity of this practice and archaic social ideology The bill is simple, inclusive, transparent. It follows the process that nine states have successfully implemented.

Although attempts have been made in the past to right this historical wrong, this is the first time a bill has come before the Senate. As advocates of the civil and human rights of all adoptees,. You listened to us and we won! We believe that the House will follow suit. New York is a key state, and when adoptees win here, other states will follow.

We thank Senator Velmanette Montgomery. Rep David Weprin, and the over 100 lawmakers, who sponsor/S3419/ A5494. Today we especially thank the New York Senate for supporting its adopted citizens and our rights. It has been a pleasure to work with you!

Contact:

• Marley Greiner, Executive Chair, bastardnation3@gmail.com 614-372-5535
• Annette O’Connell, NYARC, netgarsim@aol.com

Bastard Nation is the largest adoptee civil rights organization in the United States. We support only full unrestricted access for all adopted persons, to their original birth certificates and related documents, We are a founding member of the New York Adoptee Rights Coalition (NYARC).

Here is a video of the vote

(S3419 Senate Vote, June 3rd 2019 from Flower City Media on Vimeo. Courtesy of Jay Hunter)