BASTARD NATION VISITS COMFEST

This is an archive of the original Bastard Quarterly newsletter, edited by Damsel Plum and Charles Filius. It was published in print and on the web between 1997 and 2002.

BASTARD NATION VISITS COMFEST

by Marley Greiner

(This article first appeared in the Fall 1997 issue of the Bastard Quarterly.)

Street fairs are a good way to introduce Bastard Nation to your community. This past June, the MOB (Mid Ohio Bastards) set up space at ComFest in Columbus. Twenty-five years old, ComFest (or the Community Festival) is probably the oldest street fair in Columbus. An outgrowth of the anti-war movement of the ‘60s, ComFest has grown from an OSU campus gathering of hippies, Trots, Wobblies, Yippies, SDS organizers, women liberationists, civil rights workers, and student activities into a full blown festival in Goodale Park of "progressive" organizations, artists, community activists, ethnic food restaurants, neighborhood organizations, and music. Over 150 bands played this year and about 200 "vendors" had space.

The MOB had a prime location just off of Russell Street and across from Whole World Pizza with its broccoli burgers, and an Old Town East pastry and coffee shop, operated by the founder of the Columbus triad support group, Reunite. Way back in 1980, this woman was the first to tell me that I could have my adoption records and showed me how to get them. Although she's "resigned" from the movement, she was happy to see Bastard Nation. "It's about time BN came along." Unofficial friends of BN/MOB Charles Urban and Bradley Morris set up our space. Later Charles did a "mandatory" turn at clean up. Bradley, volunteer extraordinaire, clocked in over 30 hours of volunteer security and recruited two or three total strangers to sign up for volunteer work under the BN banner, making Bastard Nation one of the most visible ComFest members. Our nearest neighbors were a t-shirt designer and his wife, Mimi, from Yellow Springs. Mimi, in fact, turned out to be our first customer. An adoptee from Missouri, she's been searching for her birthmother for several years. Ironically, her birthmom had contacted her 15 years earlier when Mimi was still in high school.

Throughout the three-day affair, bastards, birthparents and adoptive parents told metheir stories. I met a man with NO birth certificate: the first non-person I've met. His adoption involved three states, each of which claimed the other had his records. The state which actually did have them at one time, destroyed both is original and amended bcs when its adoption procedures changed. He spent four years getting a driver's license Now he's a paramedic who can't be certified without his birth certificate. Another man - a Native Canadian - had recently learned he'd been sold to his parents through a baby broker posing as an attorney. Now the tribe and the Canadian government are working to restore his identity. I talked to several LDAs (Late Discovery Adoptees), some with extremely shady stories, who are desperate for answers. I met a man with cancer of the larynx who wanted to find his rumored twin brother. He said BN is doing "God's work." I talked with birthparents, some who felt the did the right thing; others still grieving their loss. One woman told me tearfully, "They never gave me a chance." I was particularly impressed by the Lesbian adoptive moms who went to great lengths to get their adoptive children's original birth certificates if possible, and if not, at least identifying information, which was furnished to them, sub rosa, by a friendly adoption attorney or social worker.

The only negative comments were from a woman, who Celeste-like proclaimed that we must "save the children, " which could not be done if adults were given access to their adoption records, though she never explained why. "Your problem," she hrumphed, "is that you need to adopt a difficult child." Hmmmm. A male adoptee in his early 30s held the eccentric view that adopted persons had no right to identifying information, much less an original birth certificate, though birth parents did. "I paid $50 to make sure my file is sealed. (I have no idea what he is talking about). Then the kicker: "My mother was 16 when I was born. That's not much of an age difference. I'd hate to meet her and then something happens...."

Nearly all the adoptees, though members of no adoption reform organization or support group, were angry about closed records. "These are MY records" I heard repeatedly.

By Sunday evening I'd given out over 70 ISRR Reg forms and gathered about 50 names of people interested in adoptee rights. Many asked questions about laws in other states.. People loved our name.

TIPS FOR STREET FAIRS

Street fairs are easy to do. Although you need to make an initial investment in supplies, you may already have much of what you need in your garage or basement. Feel free to add to this list, and let us know what works for you!

*Street fairs are usually held in the Spring and Summer. Check your local newspaper calendars for citywide and neighborhood events including ethnic festivals and neighborhood events, food fests, church meetings, and homecomings. Not all events are appropriate, so don't be discouraged if your good intentions are rejected.

*Apply early for space. Most are on a first-come-first serve basis. There may be an non-refundable application fee.

*Permits: If you plan to sell items or solicit donations you will need local/city/county/state permits. (Hopefully, you will not need all of these!) When you are accepted, the fair organizer should send you information on how to get these permits. If not, ask. You'll need some lead time on this. Though the permit procedure is simple, it can be time consuming. Part of it may include a police check. Contact the BN ExCom if you need specific information for the permits or about concerns in general.

*Volunteers: Besides workers for your space, you may be required to furnish the street fair with volunteers for security, clean-up, etc. If you don't comply with volunteer quotas you may not be invited back. This can seem daunting, but it's not as bad as it sounds. It's a good project for spouses and SOs. There are also hangers-on, especially at night, who don't want to go home, and would like nothing more than to walk around with a walkie-talkie and look important. Sign them up to work for BN!

*Food and Drink: Bring something along to eat and drink. You may end up alone and be unable to take a meal break. Fairs usually prohibit glass containers, so bring juice or pop in plastic bottles.

*Space: Cover from the sun is highly recommended, so get a canopy or tent. (The easier to assemble, the better.) These are sold at flea markets or at places like Odd Lots for well under $100 usually. Be sure that your shelter and display fits the space limits set by the fair organizers

*One or two long tables with covers. Make them comfortable and homey by using an India print cover, for example. Bring a plant or a vase of flowers, too.

*Comfortable chairs and hassocks--to put your feet up. You'll be there for hours.

*Lamps for evening use. Street fairs usually include electricity with the space. A space without light won't attract much attention at night. Also bring some candles for atmosphere.

*If you can afford it, purchase a portable display case, especially if you plan to do a lot of recruiting. Otherwise, display boards can be purchased for about $10 and you can design your own presentation. Both items can be found in large office supply stores like Staples or Office Depot.

*Display supplies: posters, construction paper and/or colorful wrapping paper, tape, pins, thumbtacks, magic markers, staplers, scissors, pens, etc. If you forget it, you'll need it!

*Literature: BN, TIES, Voices of Adoption brochures, ISRR Reg forms (have a mini Reg Day!), local BN flyers, BN open records booklet and other information; a summary of your state's adoption records access laws, Curry's Blue book from AAC, list of your state and/or local triad support groups, Internet information, book lists and your favorite adoption related books including search books, contact sign-up sheet. Instead of holding your literature down with stones, use clipboards. It's neater and easier to display. Bring some large rectangular Tupperware dishes or pans in which to store your literature at night or in case of rain. Make a notebook or other display of print articles about BN

*Clean up: Be a Good Bastard and clean up when you leave!

Marley Greiner is Bastard Nation's Executive Chair and a PhD candidate in History at Ohio State University. Marley also heads the MOB - Mid-Ohio Bastards, which has been instrumental in educating Ohio citizens on adoptee civil rights through direct action and press outreach.

(This article first appeared in the Fall 1997 issue of the Bastard Quarterly.)