Adoptees in New York state are gaining ground in their fight to open vital birth records.

Ginny Martin, of Westhampton Beach, says even now at age 60 she still longs to know her family's history, including who her parents were and from where they came. She says the feeling is "constant yearning."

Martin is like many adopted adults who do not have access to their original birth certificates because of what they call an archaic New York state law.

Lorraine Dusky also knows the heartache of searching for a loved one. She gave up her adopted daughter when she was 21 and spent a good part of her life searching for the girl.

Dusky, of Sag Harbor, has spent decades fighting for unsealed birth certificates for adopted adults. She wrote an article on it in the 1970s, in addition to a recent book.

Currently, there are two bills on the issue pending in both the state Senate and Assembly.