NO BAD SEEDS ALLOWED! Ohio Vital Statistics, Columbus, where original birth certificates are locked in a vault. Even VS employees can't enter the vault without authorization.
BEAohio's goal is to break those locks, chains and seals. Every person born and adopted in the State of Ohio deserves their own birth certificate, just like the not-adopted. The right of identity belongs to everyone!
BE GRATEFUL!
Even in the days of orphanges and childrens homes Ohio adoptees did not lose their right to identity nor were their records sealed.Some today tell us to shut up and be grateful we weren't sent to one of these places...or worse! Go to the slide show below and see your "fate."
TECH PROBLEMS! WILL BE UP SOON!
OHIO'S MOST FAMOUS FIRST FAMILY..or so the story goes... Unwed parents: President Warren G. Harding (1919) and Florence Kling Harding (1880).
Music
Until 1964 all Ohio adoptees had a right to their identity and birth records. Adoptees born since January 1, 1964 do not have that right. At least 150,000 adopted persons are disenfranchised by the State of Ohio which has sealed their birth certificates--the public record of their births...Dreaming of what used to be.
BEAUTIFUL OHIO Drifting with the current down a moonlit stream, While above the Heavens in their glory gleam, And the stars on high Twinkle in the sky, Seeming in a paradise divine, Dreaming of a pair of eyes that looked in mine. Beautiful Ohio, in dreams again I see Visions of what used to be.
Movies
Measurable Rights: the Fight for Open Records in Oregon is a documentary by Paul R. Fournier. In Paul's words, the film is
"the story of Helen Hill, who used Oregon’s Ballot Measure 58 to open sealed birth certificates for adult adoptees. Her initiative turned into a civil rights battle
that caused a sea of change in adoption laws across the country."
Unlocking the Heart of Adoption a documentary by first mom activist Sheila Ganz. It's been shown on numerous PBS stations and film festivals, and is used to educate legislators and the public about adoptee issues and records access.
Adoption Politics, Bastard Nation and Mesaure 58 by E. Wayne Carp.
Read the in-depth story of how Helen Hill, Bastard Nation and the people of Oregon defeated adoption industry lies and restored the right of records and identity for Oregon adoptees.
ADOPTION Adoption Mystique by Joanne Wolf Small. Joanne says it all! A short but outstanding analysis of adoption secrecy and why we need our records restored to us. The book is a finalist in the social change category for the 2007 National Best Books Awards sponsored by USA BookNews.com, the premiere online magazine and review website for mainstream and independent publishing houses.
The Baby Thief: the Untold Story of Georgia Tan the Baby Seller Who Corrupted Adoption by Barbara Bisanz Raymond. The story of Georgia Tann who worked her evil with the full knowledge of courts, social workers, and politicians. Between 1924 and 1950 she arranged 5000 "adoptions"--many of them of children she'd kidnapped or obtained by other illegal or unethical means. Raymond argues convincingly that Tann instituted the sealed records system that all but a handful of states practice today, in order to hide her illegal activities. Publishers Weekly named the book one of the top 20 non-fiction books of 2007.
Fumbling Toward Divinity: The Adoption Scriptures by Craig Hickman, a finalist in the 2006 Lambda Book Awards, is a stunning memoir about growing up adopted, black and queer. Craig's letter to the State of Wisconsin is worth the price of the book!
KNOW YOUR ENEMY The National Council for Adoption is the largest and most powerful anti-adoptee lobby in the US. It was founded in 1980 with Texas oil money for the sole purpose of keeping records sealed (under the guise of "promoting adoption"). NCFA's
Factbook 3 is a treasure trove of the stereotype, mis-and dis-information, and propaganda about adopted persons and their rights that has saturated legislators and policy makers for decades.
FB 3 replacement, Factbook 4, was released Suummer 2007. It's a lot tamer, but should be an essential part of your activist library. You must know your enemy. If you want to open your records you need this information! Also read NCFA's Birthmother, Good Mother booklet while you're at it.
FB4 and BMGM can be ordered online from NCFA; FB3 is downloadable on its site. Go here
OHIO OPEN RECORDS MEDIA REPORTS Gongwer News Service, (Statehouse news service) Jan. 10, 2008 reporting on HB7 first hearing.
ADOPTEE CITIZEN HEROS, THEIR FAMILIES, AND FRIENDS
GOT RECORDS? MAX DOES!
Every adoptee who stands up and says "I'm tired as hell and I'm not taking it anymore!" Every adoptee who sacrifices time, money, sleep, job, family,and friends to restore the right of identity to adopted persons. Every first family, every adoptive family, friend, and every politician who who says "Enough is enough! No more secrets! No more lies!" All those tireless workers across the country who work constantly, without thanks or recognition, for us!
Jean Paton, adoptee. The "Mother of Adoptee Rights," Jean worked for 60 years and never gave up the fight.
Betty Jean Lifton, adoptee. Activist, author of Journey of the Adopted Self and other adoptee-empowering books. BJ introduced a generation of adoptees to the idea that it's OK to demand the right to our identities.
OREGON
Helen Hill,adoptee.
Petitioner for Oregon's Ballot Measure 58. Helen made history by taking our rights to the people...and winning...making Oregon the first state in the US to rescind anti-adoptee laws. She also put sealed records on the cover of Rolling Stone.
Shea Grimm, theorist and activist. Shea created a rights based argument that wins. She worked tirelessly in Oregon to put our rights over the top
ALABAMA
David Ansardi, Sandra Pears-Wilson, adoptees; AWARE; Rep. Jeff Dolabare, not-adopted who took on that most conservative of states and won. Alabama Rep. Dolabare had an adoptee in his family, and he cared.
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Sen. Lou D'allesandro, adoptive father;Rep. Janet Allen, adoptee; and the adoptees, first parents, and adoptive parents who kept the vision, making New Hampshire the third state to restore adoptee rights.
MAINE
OBC for ME/Access Maine; Rep. David Farrington, and Sen. Julia Benoit, adoptee, who brought unexpected to the state.
STATISTICS
Kansas and Alaska have never sealed records. Since 1998 4 states have restored the right of birth certificate access: Oregon through the ballot initiative and Alabama and New Hampshire through repeal legislation. In 2007 the Maine legislature re-opened records, but the law will not go into effect until January 1, 2009. Below are unofficial statistics on those states. (There are no stats on Kansas and Alaska).
OREGON
May 31, 2000-January 16, 2008
Records sent: 9,267
Contact preference forms submitted by birthparents: 503
Number asking for contact with adoptee: 391
Number asking for contact through an intermediary: 29
Number asking for no contact: 85 SOURCE: Oregon Center for Health Statistics
NEW HAMPSHIRE
January 4, 2005-April 5, 2008
Records ordered: 1097
Contact preference forms submitted by birthparents: 56
Number asking for contact with adoptee: 37
Number asking for contact through an intermediary: 7
Number asking for no contact: 12 SOURCE: New Hampshire Department of State Division of Vital Records Administration
ALABAMA
May 15, 2000-February 14, 2007
At this time no statistics are published. According to the February 14, 2007 Birmingham News 3,885 adoptees have requested their birth certificates. SOURCE: Dorothy Harshbarger, State Registrar for Vital Records.
Unofficial total for the free states of Oregon, New Hampshire and Alabama:
May 31, 2000-January 16,2008
Records sent: 14,249
Contact preference forms submitted by birthparents: 559
Number asking for contact with adoptee: 428
Number asking for contact through an intermediary: 36
Number asking for no contact: 133
BEA: BUCKEYES FOR EQUAL ACCESS!'s Details
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Columbus, Ohio
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BEA: BUCKEYES FOR EQUAL ACCESS! is in your extended network view more
About me: CHECK OUR BLOG FOR UPDATES AND ACTION ALERTS!
CURRENTLY THE HEALTH COMMITTEE HAS DELETED UNRESTRICTED ACCESS FROM HB 7, REPLACING IT WITH A SUBSTITUTE BILL THAT IGNORES US.
DON'T LET THE LEGISLATURE DELETE YOU AND YOU AND YOUR RIGHTS.
READ THE UPDATES AND THEN CONTACT THE HEALTH COMMITTEE!
SIGN THE INTERNET PETITION TO RESTORE ADOPTEE RIGHTS IN HB7 AND OHIO!
BEA Ohio is an independent group of adoptees, their families, friends and supporters formed to support unrestricted access to the original birth certificates and adoption decrees for all Ohio adoptees, regardless of date of birth, date of adoption availability or disclosure veto. We are not affiliated with any organization. We do not accept any compromise on the full civil right of all adoptees to their own public records.
About HB7: Recently Rep. Tom Brinkman, Jr (R-Cinci) introduced HB7, an adoption/foster care reform package. The bill includes the opening of all post-1963 adoption records (original birth certificate and adoption decree) to all Ohio adoptees, their lineal descendants, and adoptive parents. It removes all current and future disclosure vetoes, creating a consistant standard of access for all Ohio adoptees.
About current Ohio Law: Yes, No, Maybe! Current Ohio law is a contradictory mishmash. For a nominal fee, people adopted in Ohio before January 1, 1964 have full access to their original birth certificates and adoption decree. Those adopted or "made available" for adoption on and after January 1 1964 through September 18, 1996 can receive their records only through court order. Even those matched on the state-operated adoption reunion registry are required to go to court and convince a judge to release their public records. Persons adopted after September 18, 1996 are subjected to a parent disclosure veto which cannot be overturned by a judge.
Who supports records access?
Don't listen to what TPTB claim. Adoptee rights is mainstream. We are collecting names of Ohio organizations that support SH 7 and will post them later. In the meantime, here is a selected list of organizations that support adoptee rights in the US:
Adoptees Caucus for Truth
Adoption Network Cleveland
American Adoption Congress
Bastard Nation: the Adoptee Rights Organization
Child Welfare League of America (CWLA
Concerned United Birthparents (CUB)
Ethica: A Voice for Ethical Adoption
Evan B Donaldson Adoption Institute
ISRR: International Soundex Reunion Registry
National Association of Social Workers
North American Council on Adoptable Children
Origins USA (OUSA)
PACER (Post-adoption Center for Education and Research(br>
Parents and Proessionals for Family Preservation and Protection
Parents for Ethical Adoption Reform (PEAR)
LINKS HB7 INFORMATION HB7 - Check on left sidebar for amendments, fiscal notes,and other information.
Who I'd like to meet:
Anyone can become a BEA friend, but we are inviting particularly anyone with an Ohio adoption connection who believes in the unalienable right of all adoptees to their identities and public records of their births--that adopted persons are legally equal to the not-adopted. We want people who will visit, write call, fax, and email Ohio legislators and demand that adoptees be treated equally ..
Compromise is in the air. We need you not only to work for passage of HB 7 as written, but support those who go to the mattress for adoptees. They need to know they aren't alone and have the backing of the the adoptee rights community.
And don't forget the 1996 adoptees with vetoes who aren't old enough yet to speak for themselves. We don't want to be asked years later, "Why did you leave me behind?"
Leave no one behind!
If you are an Ohio adoptee, a parent who relinquished or adopted in Ohio, a current resident of Ohio adopted in another state, involved in adoption--or just believe in adoptee equality, then join us. Please drop us line and let us know your Ohio connection. a good email addy, the Ohio city most representative of your situation so we can have show legislators that people all over Ohio care, and how you'd like to help us.
We are looking for parents who surrendered in Ohio. If you are one of them, have your documents, and would be willing to share them with us, we'd appreciate it.
We hope to have a regular webpage up soon, but in the meantime please stop by for regular updates.
BUCKS for EQUAL ACCESS REPRESENTING OHIO ADOPTEES, FAMILIES AND FRIENDS FROM (so far!)
Akron
Brunswick
Cambridge
Canal Winchester
Canton
Centerville
Cincinnati
Circleville
Clarksville
Cleveland
Columbus
Concord
Dayton
Delaware
Fairborn
Findlay
Fostoria
Health
Hudson
Lakemore
Lancaster
Medina
Middletown
Milford
New Lexington
Niles
Painesville
Plain City
Reynoldsburg
The Plains
Toledo
Vincent
Waynesville
Westerville
Youngstown
BEA: BUCKEYES FOR EQUAL ACCESS!'s Friend Space (Top 36)
Wanted toinvite ya'll to check out PIECES OF MY HEART cover design. This is the story of a birthmom. Please stop by and read the reviews. It's a wild and crazy story, In fact my family is like, "I don't know why you HAD to Write THAT! It took me 18 years, to unstuff it. My son and his family and Virgil are my family supporters and my friends who are total strangers on myspace. SO thanks for your support. Your friends are welcome!
I find it very interesting that a child born to an illegal alien has full rights at birth - - nothing sealed.
Also, Witness Protection program (U.S. gov't) falsifies someone's identity to protect them.
We are 'illegals' inside our own skin.
I'll bet you a free meal at McDonalds that the octuplets mom was adopted, also, not just an 'only child.' I figured that out a few days ago before story broke about her status as being an 'only child. ' Let me know what you find out, if anything, OK?
Hey ... thnx for the add ! Just stoppin by da check out ya site and drop a lil LuV on ya page. YOU LIKE GOOD MUSIC? YOU LIKE TRUE LYRICS? THEN HIT ME UP !!! www. myspace. com/dblo10 Thank you for all the help and support :)
Thanks for adding me, My rough time of year is coming up. My Birthday which I seem to get aggrevated by year after year. Searching for 20 years, still nowhere closer to the truth! This is so WRONG!!!!! BUCKEYES FOR EQUAL ACCESS!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you for checking out my book, "One Life", about adoption & the need for raising public awareness to OPEN RECORDS! Please let me know how I can help your campaingn. I look forward to your friendship. Thanks! Nicole
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