A new bill in Massachusetts, House Bill 4750, has stirred controversy by replacing the traditional terms “mother” and “father” on birth certificates with “person who gave birth” and “other parent.” The state Senate recently passed the bill, and it is now awaiting the governor’s signature.
State Rep. Hannah Kane (R) sponsored the bill, which has also been endorsed by the Massachusetts Women’s Caucus. “The Women’s Caucus endorsed this bill … because we know that there are many paths to parenthood, and our laws need to be updated to reflect the diversity of families,” Kane stated.
Critics argue that the bill undermines the fundamental roles of a mother and father. They question the necessity of such changes, especially since the terms “mother” and “father” are still commonly understood and accepted. The bill aims to address legal ambiguities and ensure equality for children born through assisted reproductive technology and LGBTQ families.
The bill’s proponents believe it is crucial for modernizing state laws and recognizing diverse family structures. They argue that the changes will provide clarity in legal parentage, particularly in cases of adoption and assisted reproductive technology.
However, many see the language change as overly complicated and unnecessary. The traditional terms “mother” and “father” have been replaced with what some consider dehumanizing and awkward phrases, making the language less clear rather than more inclusive.
“This bill makes significant strides toward supporting children born through assisted reproductive technology and ensures equality for LGBTQ families to establish parentage,” Kane explained. The bill also aims to provide adoptees with the right to know their biological parents.
As the bill heads to the governor’s desk, the debate continues over whether these changes are a step forward in recognizing diverse family structures or an unnecessary complication of the law.
