Adoption Controversies

Should adoptees have access to their birth records?

Introduction

Oregon voters approved a ballot initiative last November that would allow adopted children to obtain their original birth records when they turn 21, regardless of the wishes of their birth parents. Legal challenges have prevented the Oregon law from taking effect so far, but adoption rights activists are already working to put similar measures before voters in other states. Only two states -- Alaska and Kansas -- currently give adoptees 18 and older unconditional access to their birth records. Nineteen other states allow limited access. The controversy over open adoption records is one of several highly emotional issues dividing the adoption community. Controversies linger over whether gays and lesbians should be allowed to adopt and whether to allow parents to adopt children of another race.

Debra ...

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