Democrats Pass Bill to Replace Mother With “Gestating Parent”

New York Democrats have passed a bill that would strip the word “mother” from state law and replace it with the biologically bogus term “gestating parent.”

It’s a move critics say erases the unique identity and irreplaceable role of motherhood in the lives of children.

The legislation, Senate Bill 9316, would also change “father” to “non-gestating parent,” turn “paternity” cases into “parentage” proceedings, and replace “putative father” with “alleged parent” throughout New York’s child custody, family court, domestic relations and education laws.

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The more than 15,000-word bill was sponsored by Sen. Luis Sepulveda, D-Bronx, and Assemblywoman Amy Paulin, D-Westchester. It cleared the Assembly in March and passed the Senate this week.

It now heads to Gov. Kathy Hochul for her signature.

Sepulveda said the bill was needed “to be consistent with current statute and case law.”

A supporting family law attorney, Leslie Silver-Hoffman, told lawmakers the changes reflect modern families, noting, “You have adoptive parents who are of the same gender in New York. There are two male parents, two female parents.”

But opponents called the rewrite an attack on families at a time when New Yorkers face far more pressing crises.

State Conservative Party Chairman Gerard Kassar said, “It’s woke culture run amok. It’s one-upmanship. It’s an example of how out of tune the New York legislature is. It’s an unnecessary and wasteful use of time.”

He added that people considering moving to the state might ask, “Do I need this silliness?”

Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman described the bill as part of Democrats’ “declaration of war on New York families by canceling the loving terms of Mom and Dad and replacing them with ‘gestating and non-gestating parent.’”

State Sen. Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, R-Nassau, said, “At a time when New Yorkers are being crushed by utility bills, rising costs, and public safety concerns, Albany Democrats have decided one of their final priorities in the last days of session should be replacing mothers and fathers in state law. That is not what families are asking for. I am a mother and proud to be called ‘mother.’”

U.S. Rep. Claudia Tenney, R-N.Y., said at a time when New Yorkers are struggling with high taxes, rising costs, and public safety concerns, Albany Democrats are focused on redefining motherhood. “This is yet another example of out-of-touch politicians prioritizing progressive ideology over the issues that actually matter to hardworking New Yorkers.”