Heartbreaking end for Damian Adams as biological father dies week before reissued birth certificate arrived

SA activist Damian Adams became the first donor-conceived adult in Australia to have his biological father listed on his birth certificate, but the milestone came with a tragic, heartbreaking twist.

An Adelaide man who successfully campaigned for legal access to his secret paternal history – and opened the door for thousands of others – has become the first donor-conceived person in Australia to have his birth certificate altered to include his biological father’s name.

But in a tragic twist, Damian Adams’ reissued document arrived a week after the death of his 80-year-old biological father, Rodney Reis, who he met in 2019.

Dr Damian Adams with his newly issued birth certificate. Picture: Ben Clark

“I spoke to my father last year about the possibility of getting this done and he wanted a copy of the birth certificate. That meant the world to me that he not only approved but he wanted it,” said Dr Adams, 51, who developed a close relationship with Mr Reis, regularly visiting him in Queensland and speaking to him every couple of weeks.

Dr Damian Adams with his biological father, Rodney Reis: “It’s like looking at a mirror in 30 years’ time.” Picture: Supplied

“I got it expedited when I knew he was deteriorating quickly but unfortunately I got it a week after he passed. That was pretty hard to take because it almost felt like it broke the promise to him to give it to him.

“We put it in his coffin ... and got it buried with him, so he did get it.”

Dr Adams, a medical researcher who has a PhD in mental and physical health outcomes for donor-conceived people, said he had been fighting for 20 years to have his birth certificate “corrected” to include the fact that he was donor-conceived.

Damian Adams with his dad, Hedley, and mum Jane. Picture: Supplied

He ripped up his original birth certificate in protest while speaking at the 30th anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child in Geneva in 2019.

The newly issued document lists his mother, Jane Adams, and his “social” dad, Hedley Adams, who died when Dr Adams was only 10, on the front and Mr Reis’s name and other details about the donor conception on the back.

It came about after the state government passed new laws on March 19 last year – Dr Adams’s 50th birthday – to override a guarantee of anonymity for people who donated sperm or eggs before 2004 and also pave the way for birth certificates to be changed.

Dr Damian Adams holds up his original birth certificate during his statement to the 30th anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child in Geneva in 2019.

Dr Damian Adams tears up his original birth certificate at the end of his speech.

“It’s not only important just for me but society as a whole,” said Dr Adams, who first applied to have his certificate changed in 2014.

“We shouldn’t be hiding behind some legal documents like this to conceal the truth. My dog had a more accurate birth certificate than I did.

“I think (the new certificate) helps to close that chapter of my life, trying to get to be recognised and to be treated like everybody else and not be treated differently.”

Under the new laws, which came into force earlier this year, children conceived by donor sperm or eggs can have that listed on their birth certificate. At the age of 18, they can also have the name of their biological parent included on their official document if both parties agree.

Dr Adams grew up knowing he was donor conceived – “my parents decided secrecy was a poor foundation to raise a family on” – and bears an uncanny resemblance to Mr Reis.

“It’s like looking at a mirror in 30 years’ time,” said Dr Adams, whose daughter met Mr Reis in 2019 and son at the beginning of this year.

“My daughter’s the spitting image and my son’s got the same colouring, too.”

Damian Adams with his wife, Amanda, and children Brydee and Angus outside state parliament in November, 2017. Picture: Brenton Edwards

Dr Adams has two half-brothers, one from his mother, who repartnered after his dad’s death, and another naturally conceived by Mr Reis. He is also now close with his Queensland-based paternal uncles and cousins and plans to visit Germany, where his ancestors migrated from.

So far, 85 donor-conceived adults have applied for information about their biological parents through the new Donor-Conceived Register.

Originally published as Heartbreaking end for Damian Adams as biological father dies week before reissued birth certificate arrived