The New York legislature secured history on an extra day of the legislative session by reversing more than eight decades of discrimination against New York adopted people. With the bill moving through three committees on the final two days of an extended session, the Assembly Members voted 126-2 to pass S3419/A5494 and forward it to Governor Andrew Cuomo for signature and final enactment. If you have not been following this, the soon-to-be enacted law will:
- restore the right of all adult adoptees to request and obtain a certified copy of the “original long form line by line, vault copy birth certificate,” otherwise known as the OBC, with no restrictions other than the adoptee is at least 18 years of age at the time of the request;
- if the adoptee is deceased, allow direct line descendants or a lawful representative of the adoptee to request and obtain the OBC;
- address issues related to people born outside of New York but whose adoptions were finalized by a New York state court. If a copy of the OBC from the other jurisdiction is not available from a New York registrar, then information that would have appeared on the OBC must be provided by the adoption agency;
- address original birth certificates on file with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, an extremely important provision because New York City currently possesses many pre-adoption birth certificates;
- address certain OBCs that may also be held by registrars in Albany, Buffalo, and Yonkers;
- be effective January 15, 2020.
We owe tremendous thanks to all of you who responded strongly and passionately with every request we made to take action. Whether you emailed your representatives, called an Assembly Member or Senator to drive an important point home, or came to Albany with us to lobby personally for our right to our own original birth certificates, it worked. It took immense effort to harness our power and it took months to make all of these parts work, whether you are a New York adoptee, an adoptee in another state, an intercountry adoptee, a birth/first parent, an adoptive parent, or one of our many allies who know exactly what it means to advocate. THANK YOU!
Much of the work here has been done by the core partners of the coalition, including Claudia Corrigan D’Arcy of Adoptive and Foster Family Coalition of New York, Gregory D. Luce of Adoptee Rights Law Center, and Marley Greiner of Bastard Nation. Early on Tim Monti-Wohlpart helped with the American Adoption Congress, as did Barbara Fuller, also with the AAC. Shawna Hodgson, a Texan with Equality4Adoptees but now at least an honorary New Yorker, was critical in discussing strategic actions and keeping us sane.
Christopher Philippo, a New York adoptee, was with us often in Albany and was literally the resident historian and policy guru, producing two incredibly useful books on the legislative history of this this issue in New York. And throughout it all, our spokesperson, Annette O’Connell—who had no vote in the coalition but carried all of us through the highs and lows over the course of an 18-month campaign—was critical in making this happen. We owe huge thanks to Annette for sacrificing her time and bringing truth to power to Albany, sometimes speaking that truth with her son Brendan at her side.
This also would not have happened without the superb leadership of Senator Velmanette Montgomery and Assemblyman David Weprin, the bills’ primary sponsors who have been engaged in this fight for more than a decade. In particular Assemblyman Weprin shepherded the bill through the Assembly to overcome longstanding opposition from powerful Assembly members.
We also owe thank to the leadership of Governor Andrew Cuomo and top aides in his administration. They were instrumental in listening to us, understanding the issue, and working within the Governor’s office and with the many supportive New York legislators to hammer equality home. Finally, we have to acknowledge all those who came before us and fought for decades, and continued to work this session, to make equality happen.
New York will, upon enactment of S3419/A5494, become the tenth state to restore a right all adoptees had decades ago: the right to request and obtain your own vital record, without discriminatory conditions and restrictions. Let’s hope more states follow New York’s lead and that advocates understand the power genuine coalition brings, with organizations working together while simultaneously concentrating on the individual strengths they have to assure equality for adoptees is the only solution.
Thank you so much for all of your many, many years of hard work and dedication! I can’t believe this has passed! so many wonderful emotions. Can’t say thank you enough! So excited.
After 31 yrs I have finally woke up to a GREAT DAY. Thanks to all involved. Too many to mention. Love you all. I know that you know how I feel today.
What could we do without you.
Incredible
Thank you NEW YORK Mr.David WEPRIN for your Love seeing our Bill all the way to the very end … Today June 20, 2019 marks this Special day to change the history it once knew. We all are set FREE … WE HAVE OUR CIVIL RIGHTS. TO OUR BIRTH CERTIFICATES & OUR VITAL MEDICAL HISTORY !!!! ADOPTEES LIVES CAN BE SAVED NOW WITH KNOWING THE UNKNOWN TO OUR LIVES & TO OUR PRECIOUS CHILDREN’S LIVES ALSO.
I LOVE MY HOME STATE & I FEEL SO VERY BLESSED TO BE BACK HOME … I HAVE BEEN GONE TOO LONG.
THE LORD BROUGHT ME HOME SO I COULD BE HERE TO CELEBRATE MY BIRTH WITH ALL OF YOU . AMEN.
SINCERELY,
MICHELE A. NEWELL
ADOPTEE FROM SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK
This is such good news. Thank you!
So if I was born in Florida and adopted to New York am I able to get my adoption records and where do I get them from thank you
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!
It is long overdue – that’s what the majority of the Assembly members said~
Congratulations all New York State Adoptees!
I have wanted and waited 72 years for this moment to come. Thank you to All of you the helped make this happen!
Oh my—what can I say? Terrific news!!! At 74 years of age I’ll be able to find out who I am! Thank you to everyone that worked so hard to get A5494 passed!!!
Do take a DNA test, like Ancestry or 23 & Me, so you can find your relatives.
Derek Farthing: I have had my DNA tested but face a brick wall.
OMG! Thank you is not nearly enough! After 30 years of searching, DNA testing finally found my birth mom but this simple piece of paper that everyone takes for granted will be so treasured come January 20, 2020!
January 20, 2020 will be 100 yrs to the day, of my Mother’s birth. She’s been gone since 1963. What a birthday gift! I remember beginning my search for her adoption records in 1985. Seeing that direct descendants will now have access is like a dream come true.
Wow.
Thank you, all.
The State of New York just passed a bill permitting adult adoptees such as myself to obtain our original Birth Certificates, so Alexander Brummer from Manhattan (AKA George Samuel Dominguez) is going to soon learn the names of both of his birth parents.
Governor Cuomo’s committed to signing it, and I plan to go to Albany for that.
Learning that I was German (Grandpa was a Nazi!) and French (Father was a Pilot for Pan Am in NYC, apparently) was no surprise, but when I learned earlier this year via DNA that I’m 40.8% Ashkenazi Jew I gotta wonder what’s next!
Very exciting…
It ain’t a dull life, man..
God Bless America…
Congratulations! I am an adoptee born in Ohio, where they allowed us to get our birth certificates a few years ago. My birth certificate only listed my birth mother’s name, which I have been told is pretty common if they weren’t married. Luckily, DNA testing revealed who my birth father was. So, good luck to you!
What an amazing and magical day New York state!
Thank you for all of your hard work. New York-born adopted adults who are currently Illinois residents have been watching and waiting for this day.
Blessings to all of you for doing MAGIC!
Sara, I’d appreciate it if you would release Triona’s Original Birth Certificate to her. You know who I’m talking about. Leaving adoptees behind in legislation that becomes law does nothing in the quest for freedom of all adoptees. Do it for her because she is a human being with feelings. What was done to her and a few others in Illinois is a disgrace for so-called adoptee rights.
I am so grateful for all the work that has been done to make this happen. Simply said, Thank you. I can’t thank you all who have made this happen enough.
Wonderful wonderful! Thank you so much for all your hard work for adoptees’ rights.
omg thank you i cant believe they passed the bill i waited so long thank youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu
Congratulations and many thanks for all involved.
Thank you for all of your persistence and hard work! I haven’t stopped crying! This means so much to me and my mental health. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Thank you!
From the bottom of my heart, thank you. Your hard work and sacrifice are going to benefit so many. You have my everlasting gratitude.
A big thank you to all those that worked so hard to get this passed. Although it will not help me identify my fathers parents as he was an abandoned baby in NYC in 1918 and taken to Bellevue Hospital and then to NY Foundling, Placed as an indentured child with his future adoptive parents, but was not officially adopted by them until 1937 after they had 3 natural children. He died in 1983 without ever knowing his origins or real name. The name he had in Bellevue was Joseph Ryan. Do not know if that was real or made up for him. His birth day was created based on his appearance and put as May 28, 1918. Good Luck to all the adoptees that now will have their birth certificate.
THANK YOU is not enough but thank you for not giving up on us!!
This is truly amazing! The work that has been done by many individuals has changed the lives and futures of everyone affected by the adoption triad! God bless you all and the hard work you’ve done!
I’m pinching myself to believe it’s true
Not enough words exist to express the joy and gratitude for NYARC efforts and perseverance
THSNK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU
Thank you to everyone who worked tirelessly to make this Bill pass both the Senate and now the Assembly. I am moved beyond words, for I had wondered if I would see this in my lifetime. I learned that I was adopted when I was 5, I am going to turn 70. You may also recall a Jean Paton from Colorado. She was a social worker who helped people adopt and was an adoptee herself. She changed everything around to become a tireless, selfless advocate for adoptees, incl. for her own search. I received many letters of encouragement as I embarked on my search. At least in her part of the U.S. I think she was a pioneer for promoting understanding about how vitally important it is to know our birth origins and birth family if at all possible. It is a right, and that right has been restored in NYS, and my deepest appreciation goes to everyone and anyone who contributed time, devotion, and tenacity to help all the people in this adoption circle.
This is Brilliant!!!
Does this law also pertain to a child who born in South Korea and adopted/finalized in NY state or only to those adoptees born in NY?
Born in New York only! This is because the bill/law addresses the Original Birth Certificate that is issued within five days after birth, and revoked and sealed in the New York State upon the finalization of adoption.
I’m sorry. Adoptees born in South Korea or any other country or any other State will not be affected by this New York State law.
I believe you may be mistaken.
According to the article above, the new law will:
“address issues related to people born outside of New York but whose adoptions were finalized by a New York state court. If a copy of the OBC from the other jurisdiction is not available from a New York registrar, then information that would have appeared on the OBC must be provided by the adoption agency.”
Also, I just spoke with someone at the Surrogate’s Court’s adoption department where my records are filed, and she told me that a copy of my OBC (from Florida, where I was born) should definitely be in my file, along with my adoption decree and the relinquishment document my birth mother had to sign. Although I was born in Florida, I was adopted in New York State six months later. When this new law goes into effect, I should be able to access my OBC from New York State.
Thank you for clarifying.
I am pretty sure that’s wrong information. According to the article above, the new law will also address the issues of adoptees born elsewhere but adopted in New York State. The law will:
“address issues related to people born outside of New York but whose adoptions were finalized by a New York state court. If a copy of the OBC from the other jurisdiction is not available from a New York registrar, then information that would have appeared on the OBC must be provided by the adoption agency.”
First of all, there SHOULD be a copy of your OBC in your adoption file in NYS. I just called the adoption unit of the Surrogate’s Court where my adoption was finalized, and I was told that the OBC is a necessary document and would be part of my file, along with my adoption papers. They need it, in order to create the amended birth certificate. They also use non-ID info from the OBC, which is available from the state capitol upon request. So yes, it should be there, and accordingly, it should be available to you when the records are unsealed, as with any other adoptee in NYS.
Libby B: The provisions of the bill are such that in the event of someone born out-of-state, the information which would have appeared on your birth certificate will be provided. This is contingent on what is in the court adoption file (or agency file, if any) and may possibly be on file with the Adoption Information Registry. We did not leave anyone behind – so if your adoption was finalized in New York State, you are eligible to receive your self-identifying information under this law.
And to the original question, it will include children born in another country (Korea, Italy, etc.), and adopted through NY State as described above. However, in some cases NY may not have a copy of the actual OBC from the other country, but NY or the agency involved would provide the self-identifying information that would have appeared on an OBC, if they have this information.
At long last,the state of New York has awakened to the present giving adoptees what truly belongs to us. I have waited almost 83 years.
Thanks to all who have made this happen!
Thank you to all advocates lobbyists and truth speaking bastards finally we are recognized ❤️
Thank you for the countless hours of dedication and sacrifices you have all made !!!
Thank you NY and anyone who supported this. My Dad (now deceased) was an Irish adoptee and I’ve been trying to pursue dual citizenship. So grateful to NY!
Wonderful News!! My mother and her brother ( both now deceased) always wanted a a copy of the birth certificate and adoption papers. Now I can fulfill their dreams and place them at their grave sites. Thank you!
What a beautiful and loving thing to do.
I am 73 years old, with no information on my birth parents or other biological relatives. Ancestry DNA informed me about my ethnicity, but unfortunately no close relatives were found. What a thrill to know that in a few months I will finally be able to see my authentic birth certificate instead of the offensive fake Certificate of Birth by Adoption!
Yes, fake birth certificates are offensive. We need to abolish this absurd law that revokes, seals, and replaces birth certificates of all adopted people. Until we do, this adoptee access law will be helpful.
What a huge milestone! After many decades belonging to different organizations trying to make this happen, you all did it! I have been watching in such angst hoping it would get to a vote, and that the vote would be positive! And what an overwhelming vote it was!
Thanks to all of you who put in so many long hours, and have stuck with it for all these years, so those of us who were adopted can find out who we are!
I am so excited to look forward to seeing my OBC, and to show it to my kids.!
Thank you so much!
Congratulation to all NY adoptees. About time ALL USA states got on board. This is merely a civil right ….. to know who you are.
Thank you so very much!! I can’t wait until January 20th! Will someone take us through the steps we need to take to obtain our birth certificate? 🙏
We’ve waited so long. This is our day. Thank you to everyone who worked so hard to make this happen . You’ve changed our lives.
Thank you! Please continue to let us know how and when to be present when needed.
So grateful for your work.
Thank you so much for your tireless work. Watching the past 2 days unfold has been astounding. Everything that didn’t seem possible just started falling in place. Clearly it was hard work and careful planning and positive attitudes. Just plain, never giving up. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts! There are a LOT of adoptees who will be sleeping like babies tonight!
Thank you so very much. My father was from Ireland and adopted in NYC. He didn’t live to meet the family I’ve found through DNA. My children and I have a right to dual citizenship but not the paperwork to pursue it. I’m so grateful to all who helped make this happen!
Thank you so much for tirelessly fighting for our human dignity. The tide is turning!
This will change so many lives. History to be sure. Thank you!
I’m almost in tears reading these comments. It’s a shame it took years to make it happen but how wonderful that so many people managed to get this passed. My heart feels so full for all of you who are now able to open up a whole new world for yourselves. Congratulations to all!
From a mother in Pa who was happily reunited with her daughter.
Wonderful. I was adopted in England and got my records 20 years ago. I’m happy that New York adoptees will have similar rights next year.
What an exciting, I-exhilarating day… actually last two weeks. It is like a global community, each one of us doing our part in the drama of accomplishing something for all. Early mornings and late, late nights into early mornings. Some of us will puff up our ophthalmologists’ bank accounts for the eye strain we gave ourselves peering for long hours at our monitors to watch the sessions or to pinpoint the progress-and to pray that this would be the last year that NYS adoptees would be denied their rights -to be treated equally to the non-adoptees in the state.
Thanks to all who made this happen. It indeed takes a world to give adoptees their rights. (And those of us who have what others don’t, are obligated to pitch in tol help them achieve that end.
I am still on tenter hooks until I am certain your Governor Cuomo signs this into law.
Then I am going to tackle the state which holds my sister’s information hostage… It takes a step at a time to accomplish anything.
I’d like to know the process we will need to go through to request it. I was born in NY but now live in NC. Do we write the court or County we were born in or do we need to go in person? Just curious of the process. I am so incredibly grateful!!!
It would be ridiculous for anyone to expect adopted people to travel to where they were born to obtain a copy of their Original Birth Certificate when this becomes law. Details for applications for Albany, New York Vital Statistics Office will be posted later!
I’m not in charge, but I do know we all will be informed when the time comes!
Thanks! Thanks! and more Thanks! After 70 years I’ll finally be able to get a copy of my original Pre-Adoption Birth Certificate! The New York State Adoptee Rights Bill has passed the New York Legislature, will be signed by the Governor and will become law in January 2020!
I don’t think I’ll learn anything I don’t already know thanks to lots of research, DNA Testing, my Search Angel, many of you, and some good fortune and luck but I can’t wait to get a copy!
Hundreds of thousands of New York State Adoptees haven’t had access to their original Birth Certificates since the original Privacy Law went into effect in 1938!
I am so so so happy. A life changer and 83 years overdue. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to all who worked so hard to make this reality.
Thank you, I am 67 years old and saw how hiding who a childs parents were in an adoption caused such hurt. My favorite cousins son was adopted, he died in his 30’s because he needed a complete liver transplant, from heredity liver disease that no one knew he had until it was to late to treat. Our children were both foster children, we were urged to cut all ties with their birth families but refused because our daughter has several siblings, and we wanted her to know them. Our son was the child of a paranoid schizophrenic who did not know who his father was. Keeping in contact with her family was the only chance we had to learn about her illness and genetic issues. Some of the relationships have lasted and worked out some have not, but that happens in every family. Our children know who and where their birth families are, they never have to worry about whether or not we love them because we have been honest with them. Because we chose to maintain contact we were able to control access to ensure it took place in our home or other safe controlled environment. It was made very clear to the birth families, that we would make all decisions regarding parenting our children, that they could offer opinions which we may or may not consider, just as in other more traditional families, but the final decision was ours alone. That both sets of birth families must accept that although related by adoption our children were siblings and they would be treated as that. Both of our children as adults have safe appropriate relationships with some of their birth family members, and have chosen to distance themselves from others, but that has been their choice and not ours as it should be.
What a wonderful day for New York adoptees. As an adoptee from Pennsylvania, I know how treasured that original birth certificate will be. Congratulations!!
Thank you!! I have tears in my eyes as I read this. I am adopted and have been reunited with my birth family — parents and siblings — since 1995. The only missing piece is my original birth certificate! My birth mother supports me in wanting this last piece of my history, but even she is unable to have it. It is a good day in NY 🙂
Thank you is not enough for all you’ve done to pass this law.. You have changed the lives of many many people for the better. No longer will children have to live their whole lives not knowing where they came from.. I am one of them and forever grateful..
Can you please help me. I am 65 yr old female . born in italy and adopted and came to the usa in 1960 here in ny. can you help me get adult adoptees to request and obtain a certified copy of the “original long form line by line, vault copy birth certificate.
adult adoptees to request and obtain a certified copy of the “original long form line by line, vault copy birth certificate.
Fantastic news!!!
According to the article, the new law will:
“address issues related to people born outside of New York but whose adoptions were finalized by a New York state court. If a copy of the OBC from the other jurisdiction is not available from a New York registrar, then information that would have appeared on the OBC must be provided by the adoption agency.”
This is great, but what if there was no agency involvement? I was born in Florida but adopted six months later in New York. It was a private adoption, handled by a lawyer, a “grey market” adoption. So, two questions: First, can I reasonably assume that New York would also have a copy of my OBC on file, along with my adoption decree? Second, will NY also have on file a copy of the relinquishment paper my birth mother had to sign? Once the new law goes into effect in January, will I have access to everything in my adoption file? Finally, if the answer to the first question is no, what about those of us who can’t fall back on information from an adoption agency?
The answer to your question, “Once the new law goes into effect in January, will I have access to everything in my adoption file?” is NO. Adoption files are held in the court that handled the adoption, either family court or surrogate court.
Birth certificates are not held in court files. Birth certificates are held in vital statistics offices.
Hospital birth records are held in hospitals.
Access to court records of adoption are not part of this new law. The new law will apply to Original Birth Certificates only.
Relinquishment papers, petition to adopt from adopting parents, home study done by court appointed attorney, and final order of adoption decree are held in court records of the county in which the adoption was finalized. This is for private adoptions (grey market) as well as agency adoptions (white market), closed or open adoptions. All adoptions are finalized by a court and then the Original Birth Certificate is revoked and sealed, and then an Amended Birth Certificate is issued to re-name the adoptee and to replace the natural parents’ names with the names of the adopters.
Check the city or town registrar of vital statistics in which you were born (Florida) for advice. You can’t assume that New York will have your OBC because you were born in Florida. The New York county court that handled your adoption may have information contained on your OBC.
Actually, I did contact the adoption department of the Surrogate’s Court where my adoption was finalized and spoke to the woman in charge of the adoption records. I asked her specifically what papers would be in my file, and she said that my OBC would be there, along with my adoption decree and the relinquishment papers. If this is where adoptees born out of state but adopted in New York can turn to access their OBCs, it stands to reason that this will be our best option.
Again, I refer you to this statement explaining one aspect of the new law, which, it was stated, leaves nobody behind, including adoptees born in other locations but adopted in New York State: the new law will “address issues related to people born outside of New York but whose adoptions were finalized by a New York state court. If a copy of the OBC from the other jurisdiction is not available from a New York registrar, then information that would have appeared on the OBC must be provided by the adoption agency.”
If a copy of the OBC IS, in fact, available in New York – more specifically, as part of one’s adoption file, as the woman in charge of adoption records at Surrogate’s Court told me it would be– then that is where adoptees SHOULD be able to petition for it. I don’t have to assume that New York will have my OBC. I was told that it would and does. And I was advised to get back in touch with Surrogate’s Court in January, when the law goes into effect, to petition for a copy of my OBC.
My first response to you was based upon my experience with petitioning surrogate court in Erie County in 1985 for my adoption file. My OBC was not in the court files, and normally it is not because, as I said, vital statistics issues birth certificates and hold the records in that office. If the court clerk told you that your OBC would be in your court records, then you have you answer! Good luck!
Thank you so much for your hard work on this!
Congratulations to NY for becoming at long last a more grown up state! And to those who are about to find out what you have waited for, for so long, my heart goes out to you. Having to live life build on someone else’s issues what ever they were is hard enough, but being treated as though the adopted had committed some crime, with the unknown being your punishment is traumatizing to many. My personal hope now is for more of us who still can’t get ours, since the great state of NY is passing this new law, my prayer is that all the other states that still have closed/sealed adoptions, ‘turn their lights on too!’ This is the land of the brave and the free – for those of us who still wait, we do it tearfully brave, still wearing blindfolds. I, like too many will still be wearing mine into my 80th year come January 2020. I ask not just for myself, but for all of us, how long is long enough?
I’m so happy for my husband who will now be able to get a passport like any other US citizen.
Thank you so much for all of your hard work!
I’ve read the few comments on here asking about how this pertains to international adoptions, with children adopted in NY. I’m just wondering if there is anyone we could talk to in an official capacity (or perhaps the people apart of NYARC could do it) to get this clarified.
But my understanding is that as long as it was finalized in NY with an adoption agency, it should be available, somewhere. I’m helping a friend born in Russia with minimal info on his family, but was adopted to a family and raised here in NY.
Feel free to contact me at Adoptee Rights Law Center, which is a core partner with NYARC. Intercountry adoptees, adopted in New York, should have the ability under this bill to obtain the information that would typically appear on the original birth certificate. That information will be available through the agency, if any, or the court. It does not guarantee that the information will be in the file or available–only that, if it is, it will be provided. Another avenue for intercountry adoptees is to request records from the USCIS through a FOIA request, but I’d advise speaking to a lawyer first about doing that.
Thank you for this clarification! It was actually through your site that I found NYARC in the first place and learned how restrictive NYS laws were. So thank you for all your in depth information and knowledge that has helped me to help others!
Thank you all so much. I have been trying to get my OBC for years with no luck having been born in Bronx NY in 1956 in Fordham hospital which no longer exists, The only information I was ever able to ascertain was my non-identifying info, which was basically nothing. This is amazing news because I’ve been unable to locate any close natural family through the typical websites, even though I have an ‘angel’ working on a family tree. Does anyone know if NY will automatically send out an OBC for someone who has a non-identifying request on file, or will I have to reapply for one of these? Again, thank you all so much. I can’t tell you what this means to me.
It is not sent out automatically, as there will be a separate fee for requesting it.
Yea I bet!!! I knew where the home I was in before being adopted and they wanted $75!! I said no and kept fighting them. Someone felt bad for me at Hillside Childrens Center and sent me unidentifying info. Too late ya bastards!! BOTH parents are gone, my half siblings want nothing to do with me as I am 55 yrs old…
So, of course NY would want extra money!! Cuomo wont sign it…he will find a reason like the illegal pigs coming in.
This WONT get signed. Sorry to burst everyones bubble! I will be extremely surprised as this should have NEVER happened. Because a Mayor of NY had an affair yrs ago so he made this LAW to hurt each and every one of us…Cuomo will find something about the illegal pigs coming in and push this aside….AGAIN!!! Both of my birth parents have passed so thanks to freakin NY laws, I missed my Mom by 2 yrs and when I did finally find thru Ancestry, I had 5 sisters and 3 brothers….the girls absolutely hated me sayin I was lying about being a Grandinetti and why am I bothering them at MY AGE?! I am 55, took THAT long. So, yea. thanks NEW YORK….YOU SUCK!!!!! I am sorry people are excited about this but, really?!!!! DO REPARATIONS FOR US!!!! NOT THE SO CALLED SLAVE FAMILIES..NOW ADOPTEES NEED A FREAKIN PARADE!!!!! THIS ISNT GOING TO BE SIGNED…I WILL BE REALLY SURPRISED…..
After 66 years I have an idea I may get to see my real birth certificate. I’ve spent many years in attempting to know the truth. More to be revealed….. a stranger in a strange land….. on