Posted on 03/16/2015 8:00:25 PM PDT by Citizen Zed
DAYTON -- Imagine never knowing who your biological parents are, or where you came from. That is the reality for 400K people born in Ohio from the mid 1960's until 1996. Their birth records have been sealed, until this Friday.
The law originally passed in 1963 was designed to give birth parents some protection, and it was heavily supported by the adoptive parents. But fast forward 50 years, and attitudes have changed.
"I've always known that I was adopted... and I've always known that I wanted to find my birth parents," said Beth Miller who described her childhood as ordinary and happy.
"There is a misconception that you're only looking to find your birth parents if you had a horrible adoption situation, but that's not the case."
At 47, Beth says it is time to learn who she really is.
"Having the actual paperwork and being able to find those roots and to track my background, is just a piece of me that's always been missing."
For 50 years, original birth certificates and court decrees have been sealed for Ohioans adopted between January 1964 and September 1996. Those records become unsealed on Friday, March 20, 2015.
"I can't even put into words the feeling that I had when I received the envelope that had a copy of my original birth certificate," said Betsie Norris with the Adoption Network of Cleveland. "It was so validating, like my alter ego. It was just this whole other part of me I was discovering at age 25."
She has been at the forefront, fighting for this change for years. The compromise came in birth parents having a whole year to redact one's name, giving that parent the anonymity the 1963 law promised. Through Thursday, March 19, 2015, birth parents also have the option of requesting not to be contacted, or to be reached only through a third party. They were also asked to fill out medical history forms so at least their children can have access to what could be life saving information.
So far only 74 birth parents have decided to disappear altogether. That leaves nearly 400K adult adoptees, like Beth, a chance to get some answers finally.
"Everyone was trying to do what was best, they thought, for everyone," Beth said. "But I think they missed the mark on this one and they've finally gotten it right."
There will be a big event in Columbus on Thursday night at the Crown Plaza Hotel, where adoptees will meet and sign the necessary paperwork to file on Friday morning. That is happening from 6:30-9:30.
On Friday, hundreds are expected to walk into the Office of Vital Statistics when it opens at 7:30 AM to file the birth certificate application.
It's all about MEEEE! There's a good chance the birth parents don't want to be found.
I think many of these adoptees engage in fantasy that the parent who gave them up will somehow be better parents than the ones they had.
No sorry it not about MEEEEEE it’s about getting some info on your background, not all adoptee’s want or need to meat they birth parents. I sure done want to, as they are most likely already dead
I am all for voluntary registries where birth parents and adopted children can sign up if they want to find each other. But if either side does not want to be found then they should have the right to be left alone.
Whew I read the heading too fast. I thought it was about Obama’s Birth Record.
How much time did Bill Clinton spend in Ohio during that period?
My mom was the finest person tat ever trod the earth.
She raised a slew of 7 hyper-intelligent (read: troublesome) kids and gave her values to all of us, wich we share in adulthood.
If DNA or anything else suggested there was no bio link it would mean exactly zero.
People who obsess on DNA are fools who don’t have any sense of values.
Has the Ferengi High Command frozen BHO’s birth records, too?
I have researched my genealogy, and I feel terrible for those who are legally disallowed to know their ancestry. I think that it should be everyone’s right to know that, as far as possible. (Sorry, Barak).
Great Conclusion Jumping Minds think alike.
Obies complete real birth and academic records will be released in 2115
OMG that is SO FRICKING FUNNY! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
LOL That was my first thought too. That would be VERY interesting. :-)
LOL
Nope...the parents exercised their rights be having sex and concieving a child...the child had no say in the act...now it is time to accept responsibility for their actions and extend to the child the courtesy of giving him/her equal rights.
There are relatives of the child who are looking for them.
Some knew about the adoption from the beginning. Some did not know until long after.
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