State Law Would Replace ‘Mother’ With ‘Person Who Gave Birth,’ And Replace ‘Father’ With ‘Other Parent’

A Massachusetts law would replace the word “mother” with “person who gave birth” and replace the word “father” with “other parent.”

The bill, titled ‘An Act To Ensure Legal Parentage Equality,’ would “update the state’s general laws establishing parentage, custody, support and visitation of a child,” The National Desk noted.

House Bill 4750 passed the state Senate in a 40-0 vote and heads to Gov. Maura Healey’s desk.

The state House approved the legislation 156-0.

“Bill #H4750 just passed the Senate in MA. It would remove the word ‘father’ on birth certificates in the name of ‘legal parentage equality.’ It would also replace the terms ‘man’ & ‘woman’ with ‘persons’ and replace ‘mother’ with ‘person who gave birth,’” Libs of TikTok wrote.

“It will now be finalized then head to the Governor’s desk,” she added.

BREAKING: Bill #H4750 just passed the Senate in MA. It would remove the word “father” on birth certificates in the name of “legal parentage equality.”

It would also replace the terms “man” & “woman” with “persons” and replace “mother” with “person who gave birth.”

It will now… pic.twitter.com/EcXqYJH5mT

— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) July 31, 2024

* Images from Libs of TikTok X Post *

The National Desk reports:

The law in question concerns people who are entitled to find out the identity of their parents. Section 5(a) of Chapter 209C says that “complaints under this chapter to establish paternity, support, visitation or custody of a child may be commenced by the mother.”

The bill would replace that use of “mother” with “person who gave birth.”

Similarly, the section’s provision regarding legal action to establish parentage would receive updates.

That part currently reads, “If the mother of the child was or is married and the child’s birth occurs during the marriage or within three hundred days of its termination … complaints to establish paternity under this chapter may not be filed by a person presumed to be or alleging himself to be the father unless he is or was the mother’s husband at the time of the child’s birth or conception.”

The term “mother of the child” would change to “person who gave birth.”

“Look at this joyous Senate scene in honor and celebration of maternal health equity. Cheers to @BayStateBirth, @reproequity_now, tremendous Senate colleagues, and all whose courage, tenacity, and grit brought us to today. This is a people-powered win,” state Sen. Joanne Comerford said.

Look at this joyous Senate scene in honor and celebration of maternal health equity.

Cheers to @BayStateBirth, @reproequity_now, tremendous Senate colleagues, and all whose courage, tenacity, and grit brought us to today.

This is a people-powered win. pic.twitter.com/FG6C1yFEow

— Jo Comerford (@Jo_Comerford) July 31, 2024

“The Women’s Caucus endorsed this bill, filed by two Caucus members, because we know that there are many paths to parenthood, and our laws need to be updated to reflect the diversity of families,” the Massachusetts Women’s Caucus wrote.

Thank you to @HannahEKaneMA, @skpeake, Speaker @RonMariano, @mikeday4rep, and @MassParentage! pic.twitter.com/204MhKQHeK

— MA Women’s Caucus (@MAWomensCaucus) June 12, 2024

Read House Bill 4750 HERE.

This is a Guest Post from our friends over at 100 Percent Fed Up.

View the original article here.