Open Adoption Records

Sealed records and criminalized abortions. Life should be planned and never considered a "mistake." There is no greater responsibility.

This is an issue of an entire group of citizens, adult adoptees, being barred from a right non-adopted citizens have. Unequal treatment under the law is discrimination by the state holding the records. This discrimination turns access to one's own birth record from a right to a privilege, based solely on the adoptive status of a person.

Sealing adoption records began in the 1930's to hide the shame of out-of-wedlock pregnancy and infertility. It was also a means allowing adoptive parents privacy from birthparents. It is highly notable that records only seal upon the finalization of an adoption. They only stay sealed if an adoption remains intact. They do not seal upon relinquishment, are not sealed while the child is in foster care and are not sealed while the child is in an adoptive placement that is not yet finalized by the court. Hence, there is no guarantee of anonymity or confidentiality, nor can such be promised.

No significant data links open records and abortion rates. If one chooses to link them anyway, it is interesting to see that abortion rates have lowered in Oregon in the 9 years since adopted citizens regained access to their own birth records. Alaska and Kansas never closed records, yet have lower abortion rates than average. Some women have stated that they would choose abortion over sealed records.

Regarding reunion, it happens all the time with closed records. Birthparents overwhelmingly support open records, anyway. Perform a simple Google search and find organized groups of birthparents supporting open records. Like other citizens, adoptees and birthparents are capable of handling their own relationships, without government interference. They do not need other speaking for them or deciding what is best for them as though they were children incapable of doing so themselves.

In closing, birthparents already have all the same rights as every other citizen. Persons adopted in closed states do not.