The Massachusetts Senate has passed a bill that aims to update state law to redefine who legally qualifies as a parent. The bill, which now awaits the signature of Governor Maura Healey, seeks to ensure "legal parentage equality" for children born to parents of diverse backgrounds and family structures.
The Massachusetts Parentage Act, which passed in the state senate on Thursday, seeks to modernize state law by redefining who legally qualifies as a parent. The bill aims to ensure "legal parentage equality" for children born to parents of diverse backgrounds and family structures, regardless of their marital status, gender, gender identity, or sexual orientation.
Massachusetts to Redefine Parentage in New Bill
The bill replaces gendered terms like "father" and "mother" with more inclusive terms like "parent" or "the person who gave birth." Advocates say this change protects the legal parenting rights of diverse and LGBTQ families.
Democratic state senator Julian Cyr, a co-sponsor of the bill, celebrated its passage, stating that it is a critical step towards parentage equality in Massachusetts. LGBTQ+ families often face challenges in ensuring the legal parentage of their children, and this bill aims to address those concerns.
Massachusetts to Redefine Parentage in New Bill
The Massachusetts Parentage Act also expands legal parenthood through surrogacy, recognizing the growing number of families using this assisted reproductive technology. The bill ensures that children born through surrogacy have the same legal protections as children born to traditional biological parents.
Boston-based LGBTQ advocacy group GLAD praised the passage of the "historic" Massachusetts Parentage Act. GLAD believes that this legislation will strengthen the legal protections for LGBTQ+ families and provide greater stability for children raised by diverse parents.
Massachusetts to Redefine Parentage in New Bill
However, the bill has drawn criticism from some conservative groups and commentators, who argue that it undermines the traditional definition of family and parental roles. They contend that the use of gender-neutral language erodes the importance of biological ties and could lead to confusion about parental responsibilities.
Despite these criticisms, the bill has received support from Governor Maura Healey, who has expressed her commitment to LGBTQ+ equality and the need for updated parentage laws. If signed into law, Massachusetts would join several other states, including Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont, in passing similar parentage legislation.
The Massachusetts Parentage Act reflects the changing landscape of family structures and the need for laws that recognize and protect the diverse ways in which children are raised. The bill's passage is a significant step towards ensuring that all children have equal legal protections and that their families are recognized and valued by the state.
