For the approximately 400,000 Ohio adoptees whose adoptions were finalized between 1964 and 1996, known as the closed era, a basic human right of knowing their genetic history was sealed from them for decades (Price). The law that was put in place was based off fear and the possibility of what could happen if the records were to remain open and accessible by anyone. In an injudicious effort to protect the adoptees and the adoptive parents, the records were sealed without regard to what this would mean for the adoptees themselves when they reached the age of maturity.
In Ohio, the fight over this fear of what could possibly happen had outweighed the adoptees’ right to know who they are and where they come from; this is information that any …show more content…
She founded the Adoption Network of Cleveland and worked tirelessly for twenty-six years till her efforts finally paid off. On December 19, 2013, Governor John Kasich signed Senate Bill 23 into law and gave those “closed era” adoptees a pathway to their past. However, there were some strings attached to this new law. From March 20, 2014 to March 19, 2015, birth parents were given the opportunity to retract their names from the birth certificate, but were required to provide medical background and non-identifying information. They were also able to update their contact information so their adopted child would know how to contact them if they were to request their birth certificate. The new law was set up to try to encompass the rights of the birth parents, yet still provide answers to the …show more content…
Despite the reason for the adoption, all were sealed from their past forever, until now. Approximately one hundred fourteen birth parents filed for a redaction, according to Betsie Norris. What those who have requested their original birth certificate have done with the information is unknown and the outcome of the searches that were conducted are the adoptees’ personal stories and mostly unreported except for a few that have willingly told their reunion stories. Obviously, there are some that turned out to be more of a horror story than a reunion, nevertheless, any outcome is an end to the secrecy that has haunted the adoptees their entire
In Ohio, the fight over this fear of what could possibly happen had outweighed the adoptees’ right to know who they are and where they come from; this is information that any …show more content…
She founded the Adoption Network of Cleveland and worked tirelessly for twenty-six years till her efforts finally paid off. On December 19, 2013, Governor John Kasich signed Senate Bill 23 into law and gave those “closed era” adoptees a pathway to their past. However, there were some strings attached to this new law. From March 20, 2014 to March 19, 2015, birth parents were given the opportunity to retract their names from the birth certificate, but were required to provide medical background and non-identifying information. They were also able to update their contact information so their adopted child would know how to contact them if they were to request their birth certificate. The new law was set up to try to encompass the rights of the birth parents, yet still provide answers to the …show more content…
Despite the reason for the adoption, all were sealed from their past forever, until now. Approximately one hundred fourteen birth parents filed for a redaction, according to Betsie Norris. What those who have requested their original birth certificate have done with the information is unknown and the outcome of the searches that were conducted are the adoptees’ personal stories and mostly unreported except for a few that have willingly told their reunion stories. Obviously, there are some that turned out to be more of a horror story than a reunion, nevertheless, any outcome is an end to the secrecy that has haunted the adoptees their entire