I experienced years and years of shame because I was brought up to believe that adoption was something no one should know about.

Even as an adult, the belief that something awful surrounded my adoption was imbedded in my brain because I knew that all of my original documents were sealed. I believed that if there were nothing to fear, or nothing to hide, then the state wouldn't need to keep it locked away.

Every citizen of the United States should be treated equally under the law. It is humiliating to me that I am excluded from obtaining my original birth certificate just because of the unique circumstances surrounding my birth. By keeping this document sealed, the states are perpetuating the shroud of secrecy and shame that hovers over adoption.

Secrecy, lies, shame all have a very powerful effect. They send a powerful message that there is something shameful about adoption, something shameful about who I am.

Anita Fieldis the Illinois representative for Bastard Nation and is a member of ACT-NOW: The Illinois Initiative for Open Records. She very recently found her birthmother. As she advises, "I just turned 61 and my birthmother was 79 so never, ever give up hope."