NEVADA: Commentary--Adoptees Should See Birth Records

RENO GAZETTE JOURNAL,
December 28, 2007

Commentary: Adoptees should see birth records

By Cully Ray

On November 12, the Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute published a report regarding the issue of adult adoptees having access to their birth records. For years, opponents of allowing adopted adults access to their original birth certificates have falsely stated that doing so would violate the confidentiality that was promised their birth-mothers and put birth parents in compromising situations. Confidentiality, whether it actually was promised or simply implied, could not be guaranteed, and in fact, no paperwork has been found in any state with a written guarantee of confidentiality to birth parents.

There are eight states that allow adult adoptees access: Tennessee, Oregon, New Hampshire, Delaware, Alabama, Kansas, Alaska,

and, beginning in 2009,

Maine. Kansas and Alaska always have allowed adult adoptees access and have lower abortion rates than the national state average. Massachusetts enacted a bill that grants access to the years before birth certificates were sealed and to adoptees born on or after January 1, 2008.

I was born, adopted, and live in Nevada. In 2004, I petitioned the court to have my original birth certificate and adoptions records released to me. My petition was granted, but the fact is that I should never have had to petition the court. I am not a felon, I do not have a record of questionable behavior, nor have I ever been convicted of a crime.

Adult Adoptee Access to birth records is not about reunion, though that can and does happen. Adult Adoptee Access to birth records is about equal human rights for all citizens. To deny a particular segment of the citizenry any such right is wrong. Here in America it is believed to be so wrong that we have laws against it.

I urge all Nevada citizens to read the Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute Report (www.adoptioninstitute.org) and to take into consideration what other organizations have said:

Child Welfare League of America: "The agency providing adoption services should support efforts to ensure that adults who were adopted have direct access to identifying information about themselves and their birth parents."

R. David Cousineau, President and CEO of Holt International Children's Services: "We have placed more than 40,000 children with adoptive families...It is the fundamental right of all individuals to have access to information about themselves. For adoptees, that includes access to their own birth records with the same equity

as other individuals are entitled."

Spence-Chapin of NY: "The agency believes that access to identifying information is the adult adoptee's right and that this access furthers the interests of ... adoptees, birth parents and adoptive parents."

The NAC: "The National Adoption Center believes that it is an inalienable right of all citizens, including adopted adults, to have unencumbered access to their original birth certificates."

Let's leave the era of secrets, shame, and lies that damaged so many innocent lives. Children are a blessing, and no child should grow up to be held suspect and denied their basic human rights because of the circumstance of their birth.

Cully Ray is the American Adoption Congress representative in Nevada.


Link to article