The Adoptees’ Bill of Rights

1. We have the right to dignity and respect.

2. We have the right to know we are adopted.

3. We have the right to possess our original birth certificate.

4. We have the right to possess all of our adoption records.

5. We have the right to full knowledge of our origins, ethnic and religious background, our original name, and any pertinent medical and social details.

6. We have the right to updated medical and social history of our birth parents.

7. We have the right to personal contacts with each of our birth families, as all other humans.

8. We have the right to live without guilt toward any set of parents.

9. We have the right to treat and love both sets of parents as one family.

10. We have the right and obligation to show our feelings.

11. We have the right to become whole and complete people.

12. We have a right and obligation not to violate the dignity of all people involved in the adoption triad and to carry our message to all adopted children who still suffer. 

 —Author Unknown