More states should open records to adoptees

Two years ago, a new adoptees rights law took effect in New York, allowing adoptees over the age of 18 unrestricted access to their sealed birth certificates. With that legislation, New York became the 10th state to allow open birth records.

Little did I know that it would have a direct impact on me.

In my opinion, there should be no treating one class of person differently than another based entirely on the circumstances of their birth.

I realize that adoption is a complicated issue. Whether or not to place a child up for adoption is a difficult decision. But it’s a topic that has been on my mind since 1970 — the year my daughter was born.

Ever since she was adopted, I thought about her on a regular basis and hoped and prayed that she was alive and well. I continuously wondered if she was having a good life.

Well, thanks largely to New York’s new law, Victoria was able to obtain her original birth certificate and to then find her birth mother, who then subsequently provided information about me. As a result, I was able to happily discover the answers to the questions I’d been wondering about for years.

Lo and behold, I received an unexpected letter with a New York City postmark from Victoria Rich of Brooklyn. It was a very happy day for me.

I was elated to learn that she was well, healthy, accomplished, and physically fit. She’d even earned a master’s degree. I breathed a huge sigh of relief. It was a real blessing that she was able to find me and to learn that she had a good life.

I fully recognize and acknowledge the role of her adoptive parents (now deceased). I am thankful to them as I certainly know full well that they did an outstanding and exemplary job in raising her.

On the other hand, as a foolish, goofy, immature kid of 17, I had nothing that I could have provided her back in 1970. I had no job-related skills, no talents, no credentials — nothing to offer. I am so thankful that her adoptive parents had the resources to provide a solid home life for her.

We have been in communication via letters, phone calls and emails. But more importantly, we met in Manhattan on December 4. It was a very happy and momentous day indeed.

I strongly encourage other states to pass legislation that would give adults access to

their own preadoption birth certificates. I applaud all New York state elected officials who rectified the unfair treatment of adoptees. Thanks to them, it’s an inequality that’s been righted.

Other state government entities should realize that the rights of adult adoptees to be treated the same is mainly an equality issue.

The core issue behind open original birth certificate legislation is not just about searches and reunions, it’s about the removal of a discriminatory barrier to a legal document.

Without that access, an adopted person is unfairly left wondering about their identity. It leaves them without valuable, factual information about their very existence.

I understand there may be privacy issues after decades of secrecy. Previously, adoption records were routinely sealed as there was a societal norm of shame and scorn directed toward teenage pregnancies.

Thankfully, societal attitudes have shifted. Judgmental negative viewpoints once held have changed, and the previous stigma has been lessened.

On my next visit to New York City, I’m looking forward to walking across the Brooklyn Bridge with my new daughter.