Filmmaker Jean Strauss premiered her documentary A Simple Piece of Paper—about Illinois-born adoptees accessing their birth certificates—for the first time at the Center on Halsted this past week.
The Original Birth Certificate Access Bill, enacted in 2010, permits increased exchange of information between biological families by allowing adopted adults access to their original birth certificates without obtaining a court order. State Rep. Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago) sponsored the bill; she worked for 14 years to pass the legislation into law so she and thousands of other adoptees could legally request their original birth certificates to learn more about their identities.
In A Simple Piece of Paper, Strauss captures the stories of twelve Illinois residents, including Feigenholtz, as they learn their given names at birth, discover important medical history, and find their biological families. All twelve adoptees featured were in attendance as well as several biological family members located because the Original Birth Certificate Access Bill was signed into law.
Gov. Pat Quinn made a surprise appearance at the opening reception of the film to show his support for the law and congratulate Feigenholtz on her work for Illinois-born adoptees. Coincidentally, Quinn signed more historic legislation at WGN Radio’s studio that very morning; the new law gives adoptees access to even more information about their medical history and biological families. These two laws put Illinois at the forefront of a national movement calling for more transparency surrounding adoption.
Check out www.asimplepieceofpaper.com to learn more about Jean Strauss, the film and adoption issues.