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National Adoptee Rights Group Travels To Illinois to Free Original Birth Certificates

American Adoptees Denied Civil Rights to Birth Certificate

Due to archaic laws that are a legacy of cultural shame stigmatizing infertility, sex, unwed mothers, and adoption, over 90% of all American adoptees will face a life of discrimination unless current laws are changed.

Wanting their civil rights restored, the Adoptee Rights Coalition; http://www.adopteerightscoalition.com;  adopted persons, their families and friends will be gathering in Chicago, Illinois, during the National Conference of State Legislators’ annual summit.  The fifth annual demonstration for the equal rights of adopted persons in the United States includes a public rally and march.

Less Than 5% of American Adoptees Have Free Adoption Records

In the United States, only six states (Alabama, Alaska, Kansas, Maine, New Hampshire and Oregon) allow adopted persons unrestricted access to their original birth certificates upon the age of 18. While other states have made some progress, there are still 44 American states not allowing an adopted persons to be treated the same as a non adopted person, and in most states, they are still completely denied access to their own records for life. All adoptees not living in an open records state, whether in an open or closed adoption, will find that their original birth certificate will forever be sealed away under current legislation.

The participants of the Adoptee Rights Demonstration believe that all people in the United States should be treated equally; not based the state of residence or the circumstances of their birth. To do otherwise is discrimination. Adoptee Rights volunteers help educate state representatives about the need to introduce legislation that will allow adopted persons in the United States equal access to their original birth certificates.

Marching to Restore The Civil Rights of Adoptees

On August 6, 2012, at 10 am, The Adoptee Rights Demonstration will march at the National Conference of State Legislatures’ annual summit, being held at the at the McCormick Place Convention Center Chicago, 2301 South Lake Shore Drive.

Members and volunteers of the Adoptee Rights Coalition will also be exhibiting at the NCSL Legislative Summit. Adult adoptees from around the world will be joined by the parents who relinquished them, their adoptive parents who raised them, plus various family and supporters asking for one simple act; change the laws so they can be treated equally.

Many Reps Are Clueless Regarding State Discrimination Laws

When asked about the current adoption laws in their own state, many state legislators will find that the Adoptee Rights Volunteers know much more about the laws then they do.

“We have found that much of the general public, including many elected officials, are woefully unaware of the legal discrimination sanctioned in this country. Even adoptive parents and birthmothers/fathers have no idea that the laws are still decades old. If every caring adoptive parent knew that they were raising a child to be discriminated against, then they would be marching with us in Chicago.” states Jeff Hancock, adoptee and demonstration organizer.

There is no legislation or any adoption contract that states why an adopted person is not entitled to his or her own birth certificate. Most of the laws were created to “protect” the infant from the stigma of bastardization, but those provisions are no longer needed, nor wanted by most parties involved.  Those who would continue to deny adult adoptees access to their original birth certificates base their erroneous beliefs on information that is not supported by historical nor statistical facts garnered from both US and international states with open records legislation in place.

Adoptee Rights legislation is pending in various states including New Jersey, Missouri, New York, and Pennsylvania. 


To learn more about the Adoptee Rights Demonstration, adoption legislation, and what you can do to support adoptee rights, contact The Adoptee Rights Coalition at:

ARC@Adopteerightscoalition.com


 Find us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/AdopteeRightsCoalition
and on Twitter @AdopteeRightsCo for legislative updates and community all year. 




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