ara Rigge, of Trinidad, California was recently filling out her 2010 U.S. Census form, when she found herself faced with a dilemma. She’s adopted, and her original birth certificate is sealed, making it impossible for her to accurately answer questions about her ethnicity.

“Can you imagine not knowing your ethnicity, your race? Now imagine walking into a vital records office and asking the clerk for your original birth certificate only to be told, ‘No, you can’t have it, it’s sealed.’ How about being presented with a ‘family history form’ to fill out at every single doctor’s office visit and having to put ‘N/A Adopted’ where life saving information should be?” [Source: The Humbolt (CA) Beacon]

Some states have already passed laws making original birth certificates and biological family histories available to adoptees. But 44 states still permit the sealing of birth certificates, preventing hundreds of children and adults from having any connection to their biological history.

Labels: adopted children

Posted By: Stefanie Hamilton