> > ORIGINAL BIRTH CERTIFICATES FOR IL ADOPTEES > > August 2009 > > ORIGINAL BIRTH CERTIFICATES FOR IL ADOPTEES is a monthly eNewsletter > bringing you all the news that's fit to print from the Land of Lincoln. We > are a voice for the Illinois Open Organization, www.ILOpen.org > ILLINOIS OPEN MISSION STATEMENT > > It is the civil and human right of ALL ADOPTED ADULTS to have access to > their original birth records unconditionally and free from falsification. > > Our goal is to challenge Illinois legislators to restore this civil and > human right to all adopted men and women. We will not support legislation > that places any restrictions on the rights of all adopted adults' access > to > their obc's. > > It is not our primary goal to be a search organization. > > > We are independent of any other group. > > Important Facts > > In the Spring of 2008 the name Adoption Reform Illinois (ARI) was formed. > Illinois Open was one of the organizations that was "tossed under their > umbrella". This should never have happened and we have been quiet > publicly > about it until now. It has come to our attention that some people have > found it to be confusing since Illinois Open did sign off on some letters > sent by ARI to legilsators. Later an ARI press release was sent out > regarding a Santa campaign. We are not part of ARI or Green Ribbon > Campaign > (GRC). We apologize for any confusion. > > Illinois Open is independent of any organization. We do not ask for nor > do > we receive donations. We have no membership fees. Please do not be > mistaken in sending anyone money thinking that you are showing support for > our organization. In fact, if anyone tries to tell you to send money to > them > in support of Illinois Open, please email us - obc@ilopen.org. > > Major Problem in IL House of Representatives > > What can we do about a state representative who is strongly opposed to > adopted adults having access to their original birth certificate? We are > not talking about the average politician. State Representative William B. > Black (R) 104th District has been in office since 1986. He is the Deputy > Republican Leader and has received many "Outstanding Legislator" awards. > > A reliable source has said that Representative Black's two children are > adopted and a grandchild might be adopted. > > If any of you have seen him talk on the local news or heard him speak over > the radio, you know that he is boisterous and will rant on and on > regarding > anything that he is opposed to. Needless to say someone who has been in > office as long as he and has received so many "Outstanding Legislator" > awards does have many followers. If that is not enough, chances are he > does > gain followers just because it is easier to agree with him than to hear > him > rant and rave. > > Whether Representative William Black will listen to anyone but his > constituents could be questionable. But we must try to educate him since > it > is hard to say how much longer he might be in office. Perhaps we could > stress the following: > > Adopted adults should have a civil right restored so they do have access > to > their original birth certificate, if they so desire. It should be > unrestricted access, absolutely no conditions so no adopted adult is left > behind. > > State Representative William B. Black > 314 Capitol Building > Springfield, IL 62706 > 217-782-4811 > FAX: 217-782-1873 > > OR: > > State Representative William B. Black > 7 E. Fairchild > Danville, IL 61832 > 217-431-1986 > FAX: 217-431-2088 > > > How and Why Are Adoptees' Records Sealed? > > Original birth certificates have never been sealed to protect the privacy > or > confidentiality of the birth mother. The records were sealed to protect > the > new legal family unit created by the court – the adoptive family. Here is > how it has always been done. > 1. A birth mother signs irrevocable relinquishment documents after giving > birth to her child and BEFORE ANY ADOPTION TAKES PLACE. The relinquishment > documents are permanently & legally binding. At this time, the birthmother > gives up all her legal rights to this child forever. > 2. The child’s original birth certificate and adoption records are ordered > sealed by a judge ONLY at the time that the judge signs a final adoption > decree. > 3. A court order to seal original birth documents is never made until the > time of the finalization of the adoption. > 4. Children who were not adopted, such as foster children, have full > access > to their original birth certificate. It is not impounded and sealed > because > they were never adopted. > > > More Interesting Books > > Adoption Reunion - Ecstasy or Agony?, by Evelyn Robinson > Twice Born: Memoirs of An Adopted Daughter, by Betty Lifton > > IllinoisOpen.Org: > Anita Walker Field, Skokie, IL > Mary Lynn Fuller, Urbana, IL > > We are volunteers and do not ask for nor receive donations. There is no > membership fee. Illinois Open should NOT be confused with Adoption Reform > Illinois or Green Ribbon Campaign. > > Please forward as far and as wide as possible! > > To subscribe to this monthly eNewsletter just send an email to > obc@ilopen.org. > > > >