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On July 1, 2011 Rhode Island became the newest state (joining other states including Oregon, New Hampshire, Tennessee, etc.) to reverse the discrimination against US-born adopted citizens and allow the release of original birth certificates to adult adoptees. Right on! Kansas and Alaska never closed access of original birth certificates to adoptees.

Before 1935, all US adoptees had access to their original birth certificates. Around 1940, US adoptees’ birth certificates began to be sealed in some states to protect the adoptee and the adoptive family from intrusion by birth parents. In Tennessee, for example, records were closed to cover up illegal adoptions and the fear that the illegally adopted children might be returned to birthparents upon evidence of improprieties. In other cases, records were closed to protect the identity of birth parents to whom publicity might tarnish their public persona - typically a birth father of public stature or wealth. Still other relinquishments were done as intimidation of birth mothers as a judgement of their church or culture that they were too poor or too young, or were unmarried and therefore unfit to parent a child. Shaming birthmothers was common in relinquishments and secrecy was used to hide the shame. However, children who were relinquished but NOT ADOPTED still RETAINED their original birth certificate.

To join adoption reform and restore original birth certificates to adoptees in ALL US STATES, see the American Adoption Congress. Find out what your state is doing to grant adoptees full rights of citizenship on this Independence Day.