The BASTARDIZED states of Alabama, Alaska, Connecticut, Colorado, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, aVermon, nd Virginia are the only U.S. states where adult adoptees have unrestricted access to their own original birth records.
Continue reading
On June 13, 2026, Pam Zaebst, long-time adoptee rights activist and Bastard Nation Founding Foundling, died peacefully at home in Westerville, Ohio, after a short illness…Pam was a dedicated Bastard. She was thoughtful, funny, articulate, well-informed, and always polite. She had the gift of patience, explaining in much simpler and kinder language than I, adoptee rights and the adoptee experience. With that talent, I thought she’d make a great first grade teacher or therapist.
Continue reading
Despite being raised by U.S. citizen parents and having no memories of her country of birth, the woman is in active immigration removal proceedings that threaten to deport her to Iran, where the U.S. has not held diplomatic ties since 1980. Her father, a decorated WWII U.S. Air Force veteran, survived a German POW camp and death march before bringing her home to the U.S.
Continue reading
As I said, Jean Uhrich was a force of nature. Maddeningly so. She could be opinionated en extremis. There were times when I wanted to scream “just shut up,” but didn’t. And, she could be kind and generous. She loved Bastards and loved the fight. She stood for something. Jean’s work will not go to waste. One of these days California WILL fall. Jean was a warrior. She stood on the shoulders of Bastard Elders and others will stand on her shoulders. Jean will be missed. Is missed.
Continue reading
Use our timeline for amusement and education. Imagine the fun you’ll have telling your state legislators that your records were sealed before Pearl Harbor was bombed; Babe Ruth retired and Jackie Robinson broke the color line; school segregation was illegal; Social Security and the CIA existed; Watergate, Elizabeth was Queen; Malcolm X and Martin Luther King were assassinated….and before most of those lawmakers were born.
Continue reading
The long-lost documentary Measure Rights: is now online. Measurable Rights The fight for open records in Oregon is the story of Helen Hill and Bastard Nation, who used Oregon’s Ballot Measure 58 to open sealed …
Continue reading
Fed up with Safe Haven Baby Boxes? Let Boxers know. Join us on Stop Safe Haven Baby Drop Boxes today. Open to anyone in and out of AdoptionLand who finds anonymously abandoning a baby by …
Continue reading
If you are tired of forced birthers exploiting adoptees to push their agenda, please check out #NotYourAbortee #NotYourPosterChild on Facebook The page is run by adoptees to smash abortion abolitionist conflation of abortion and adoption
Continue reading
Bastard Swag Boutique. Your one-stop shop for everything Bastard! Proceeds benefit Bastard Nation.
Continue readingIf you are new to Bastard Nation or to adoptee rights, start with The Basic Bastard to get up to speed.
Continue reading
There is no state interest in keeping original birth certificates sealed from adult adoptees to whom they pertain nor does the state have a right or duty to mediate and oversee the personal relationships of adults. The debate on the release of OBCs to its adopted citizens is small v large government issue. Small government should win this one.
Adopted people in 17 states have unrestricted access to their OBCs, including all of New England and 4 conservative southern states (Alabama, Louisiana, Georgia, Virginia). Not a single negative report about unsealing has been published. OBC access, through the efforts of policy and lawmakers is being normalized. Adoptees are beginning to be treated just like the Not Adopted.
Continue reading
HB301 passed the House 84-10 on January 28 and 28-12 on March 11. Governor Abigail Spanberger signed in on April 13. (as expected). It goes into effect on July 1, 2026.
Continue reading
There is no state interest in keeping original birth certificates sealed from adult adoptees to whom they pertain nor does the state have a right or duty to mediate and oversee the personal relationships of adults. The debate on the release of OBCs to its adopted citizens is small v large government issue. Small government should win this one.
Adopted people in 16 states have unrestricted access to their OBCs, including all of New England and 3 deep South conservative states (Alabama, Louisiana, Georgia). Not a single negative report about unsealing has been published. OBC access, through the efforts of policy and lawmakers is being normalized. Adoptees are beginning to be treated just like the Not Adopted.
Continue reading
25 years have passed since Helen Hill and Bastard Nation launched the 3rd wave of the adoptee rights movement with our successful Oregon Ballot Measure 58….We’ve wondered how many certs Oregon has released since then. Here’s the latest report straight from the state:
Continue reading
There is no state interest in keeping original birth certificates sealed from adult adoptees to whom they pertain nor does the state have a right or duty to mediate and oversee the personal relationships of adults. The debate on the release of OBCs to its adopted citizens is small v large government issue. Small government should win this one.
Continue reading
We launched the 2026 Bastard Nation Legislative page on January 2.
Continue reading
Get involved with Bastard Nation's national and state-level advocacy efforts. Sign up or update your contact information here. We'll be in touch.
Bastard Nation is a proud partner organization in the New York Adoptee Rights Coalition, along with the Adoptee Rights Law Center and the Adoptive and Foster Family Coalition of New York. Plus strategic partner Reclaim the Records
Bastard Nation is a proud partner in the Texas Adoptee Rights Coalition, along with Equality for Adoption, Gladney Adoptees for Rights and Equality, and the Adoptee Rights Law Center. Plus strategic partner Reclaim the Records