ALBANY, N. Y. (WRGB) — A bill passed by the New York state Legislature this session could change the language used in family court and other legal documents by replacing gender-specific terms such as “mother,” “father,” and “paternity” with gender-neutral wording.
The proposal, now under Gov. Kathy Hochul’s consideration, would change “mother” to “gestating parent,” “father” to “non-gestating parent,” and “paternity” to “parentage” in court documents.
Supporters say the measure is aimed at making statutory language more inclusive without eliminating the roles of mothers and fathers. Chris Dancy of Fullmont Pride said, “I’m 100% against anything that compels speech onto everyday people, but this is not compelling speech onto everyday people.” Dancy added, “This clearly focuses on court cases, specifically so that we can help non-traditional families, you know, IVF straight couples who might have had assistance with reproduction or people with surrogacy arrangements.”
Meagon Nolasco of Collar City Pride said, “There is nothing in this law that is taking away the role of mother or father or what that looks like in traditional households. What it is doing is making room for non-traditional households.”
Sen. Luis Sepúlveda, the Senate sponsor of the bill, said in a statement that “this bill does not change their rights as parents.” Sepúlveda said it “does not redefine their family, take away parental authority, or prevent anyone from identifying as a mother or father,” and said the bill would make New York law “more consistent and better equipped to recognize all legally established parent-child relationships.”
Opponents argue the changes undermine traditional family structures. Sen. Dean Murray, a Republican, said, “We’ve gone through 250 years of mother and father being on the books in the laws of New York.” Murray added, “I think this is more of an effort to undermine the basis of the nuclear family.” He also said, “I think we have gone just off the path of righteousness off the path of just morality here.” Murray said, “We are now I don’t want to even say pandering but it does feel like it to this very loud minority that just doesn’t like the norm.” He added, “It’s that simple.”
Lauren Sheeley, senior counsel at Tully Rinckey, said the bill “expands to be more inclusive of all relationships, but it does not exclude any conventional relationships.” Sheeley said, “Mother and father can still be used, the terms mother and father in everyday use,” adding, “This is just the statutory language.” Sheeley said, “And so it is not changing anyone’s rights or anyone’s relationships or abilities to be a good caregiver or provide the best interests of your child.” Sheeley added, “It’s just about the terminology and the law,” and said, “And whatever’s in the best interest of the children is what rules in family court.”
Hochul has not yet decided on the bill. A spokesperson for the governor said, “The Governor believes mothers are mothers and fathers are fathers, and no legislation changes that. The legislation, which we will review, appears to address technical legal issues related to surrogacy and parentage. Anyone making bad-faith arguments is deliberately misleading New Yorkers for political gain.”
Meanwhile, Bruce Blakeman, the Republican running against Hochul in this year’s gubernatorial race, posted: “In Kathy Hochul’s New York, ‘mom’ is now defined as ‘gestating parent.’ Not when I’m Governor! I’ll stand up for moms and dads against this insanity.”
