Top 3 Reasons Why Virginia Should Restore Original Birth Certificate Rights to Adult Adoptees
- Equality
If not adopted, adoptees would have the right to obtain their original birth certificate. Being relinquished (i.e. orphaned or foster care) does not cause records to be sealed, being adopted does. - Privacy
Consumer DNA is the alternative but it is very public and does not allow for private, sensitive communication between adoptees and their first families. - Healing
Thousands of adoptees, birth parents, adoptive families, and professional organizations all agree that truth and transparency are vital and promote healing.
HB550 will restore the right of ADULT adopted persons to obtain their own original birth certificate.
HB550 will eliminate expensive court petitions and simplify process for ADULT adoptees to obtain their OBC.
HB550 will NOT make any adoption record or birth certificate available to the public.
We are a core partner of Capitol Coalition for Adoptee Rights working to change discriminatory laws in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia that deny an adult adoptee the right to request and obtain his or her own original birth certificate.
Supporting Organizations
The Adoptee Rights Law Center provides advocacy and legal representation to adult adopted people on issues of original birth records,, identifying information, and U.S. citizenship.
Adoptees United is a national nonprofit tax-exempt organization with an unwavering commitment to equality for all adopted people.
The American Adoption Congress (AAC) is an international organization devoted to family connections by providing the needed education for all members of the adoption constellation as well as professionals within adoption, foster care, and assisted reproduction
The Family Preservation Project is an online parenting resource and adoption education database. Its mission is to connect expectant moms to resources during temporary hardships in order to preserve their
families and not separate them.
Saving Our Sisters is dedicated to supporting all members of expectant families considering adoption. SOS focuses on ensuring families do not apply a permanent solution to a temporary situation.
Bastard Nation: the Adoptee Rights Organization 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 (OBC) and related documents.
Opened in 1988, we are a non-profit, Virginia-licensed agency offering training and education, placement and support services. The agency’s unique approach to adoption is reflected in the range and types of services we offer and the lifetime partnership we provide to adoptive and birth families and adoptees.
If you are part of an organization who would like to join us in our efforts to restore equal rights to adoptees or an organization who wishes to pledge your support for our equality efforts, please email us at [email protected].
Adoptee Rights are Human Rights