Bastard
Nation is dedicated to the recognition of the full human and
civil rights of adult adoptees. Toward that end, we advocate
the opening to adoptees, upon request at age of majority,
of those government documents which pertain to the adoptee's
historical, genetic, and legal identity, including the unaltered
original birth certificate and adoption decree. Bastard Nation
asserts that it is the right of people everywhere to have
their official original birth records unaltered and free from
falsification, and that the adoptive status of any person
should not prohibit him or her from choosing to exercise that
right. We have reclaimed the badge of bastardy placed on us
by those who would attempt to shame us; we see nothing shameful
in having been born out of wedlock or in being adopted. Bastard
Nation does not support mandated mutual consent registries
or intermediary systems in place of unconditional open records,
nor any other system that is less than access on demand to
the adult adoptee, without condition, and without qualification.
Bastard
Nation's Nonprofit status
On October 11th, 1996 the Executive Committee
of Bastard Nation approved a
set of bylaws and a mission statement
and began the process of incorporating as a 501(c)(4) non-profit
organization. As a 501(c)(4), Bastard Nation does not retain
all of the perks associated with being a 501(c)(3) non-profit
(donations are not tax-deductible), but in return we have
the freedom to support legislation and political campaigns,
and in general to move beyond the arena of education into
political advocacy. To this end, Bastard Nation accepts paid
memberships and donations, sells merchandise, and holds annual
conferences.
Read Bastard Nation's Model
Open Records Legislation
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