What ARD is:

ARD, Adoptee Rights Day, originally celebrated the passage of Oregon's Adoptee Rights Initiative in December of 1998 (Measure 58.) Now in its third year, ARD celebrates the anniversary of the final victory of Measure 58 which went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. June 2nd was the day when the Oregon Vital Records offices started mailing out original birth ceritificates to Oregon-born adult adoptees.

ARD educates the world-wide public on adoptee-rights and dignity issues, in particular the injustice of permanently sealed adoption records and of the need for adult adoptee rights now. We do this through a week-long series of events including a day of protest at local Vital Records offices, pamphletting and tabling at high-traffic public places, street theater and special educational events sponsored by local adoption support and reform groups.

Those who cannot attend the Day of Protest in person at a local Vital Records office (and even those who do) are invited to call, fax and mail the Vital Records offices and adoption agencies where their original birth certificates and adoption files are kept during this day. This is done to empower adoptees and to inform the Vital Records clerks and adoption workers of the injustice of permanently sealing adoption records from the people to whom they belong. There is a concerted public relations and media campaign run in association with ARD, to make the wider public aware of adoptee rights issues.

ARD was and is sponsored by Bastard Nation, but anyone who believes in true equal rights for adult adoptees may participate. You need not be a Bastard Nation member. ARD may not be used to promote conditional access legislation or to promote any for-fee services.

See pictures and read reports from previous years' ARD events.

Join the ARD Community today!