Bastard Nation

Talk given at the AAC Regional Conference in San Diego, November 9, 1996
Hello, I'm Damsel Plum and I am one of the Founding Foundlings of Bastard Nation and administrator of the BN website.

What you see behind me is the BN website which has been up on the WWW since June 19,1996 (almost 5 months now) and, according to the Internet Link Exchange, has logged over 15,000 hits since then.

Introduction

Let me give you a brief introduction to BN. Structurally, BN is a 501(c) (4) nonprofit organization dedicated to unconditional open records for adult adoptees and to providing empowering adoptee support services.

In terms of legislative activism we are reaching out to adoptees worldwide through a network of regional directors now being set up. The aim of this outreach is to make adoptees and the general public aware of the civil rights violations inherent in sealed records legislation, and the danger of the Uniform Adoption Act.. Our goal is to publicize, lobby for and push through unconditional open records legislation written by adoptees for adoptees. An example of such model legislation can be found at our information table. It is modeled after open records legislation as it now exists in Alaska, Kansas and iii many other nations of the world. We will conduct original research. write and publish reports on the history and impact of sealed vs. open records scenarios worldwide. Local chapters will train adoptees in activism and public relations for the cause of open records.

In terms of support services, BN offers search and reunion support via our interactive website, some free CD searches for contributing adoptees, postings and follow-ups on the Usenet newsgroup alt.adoption, and in the future through our newsletter and other off line publications. We do not plan to offer offline search and reunion support groups at any level.

The first issue of our newsletter "The Bastard Quarterly" will preview in February,1997 and will be edited by Shea Grimm who has previously edited the search and reunion newsletter "Forged Links" It will include features on legislative updates and activism

True Tales from Adoptee Experience, the Bastard Moment column, humor, cartoons, dirty tricks, original research and articles on open records and more. Also in the works are several projects from Bastard House publications including an anthology of Bastard Thought edited by Marley Greiner and biannual humor/arts publication entitled "Little Orphan Asskicker" edited by me.

The rest of this talk will be a guided cyber-tour of the Bastard Nation website followed by questions and answers. Sound good?

Website Cvber-tour

  1. Structure, Philosophy and Politics

    1. Title Page:
      Disclaimer: Points out the streamlined approach of BN. Legislative agenda narrowed to open records for adult adoptees only (not adult abalone fishermen, not underage aardvarks). No stand on open adoption or any other adoption reform issue other than.... Support focus on empowerment, not victimization.
      Adoption Ring: Ring of pro-search and reform-minded sites by a variety of people and organizations involved in adoption
      RegDay: BN supports RegDay and many BN are hosting and volunteering at RegDay sites around the U.S. and Canada. (quick visit to SF RegDay site)

    2. . Mission statement and by-laws (copy on table and in brochures)

    3. . What is Bastard Nation?
      Marley's statement
      Lesli's Bastard Moment
      Nigel's stream-of-consciousness

    4. .Why call ourselves "Bastards"?
      Definition
      Further Clarification

    5. . Fight for your Right .. to Search!
      Links to information about open records and the UAA.

  2. Support Services: Search, Reunion and References

    1. So you want to search?
      Shea's Search series
      Link to Voices of Adoption
      ISRR, ALMA, AIML
      Books
      Direct search sites

    2. Reunited and It Don't Feel So Good...
      Preparation Before Contact
      True Tales of Revolting Reunions
      Don Williams' story

    3. . WWW Library of Adoptee-Related sites

  3. Fun With Bastardy: humor

  4. Fundraising and Events
    Bastard Boutique
    Membership
    Conferences

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