Legally Protecting Your LGBTQ Family in 2026
A new year offers new motivation to set goals and make changes. For LGBTQ families, one of the most important goals should be to ensure our parent-child relationships are as legally secure as possible.
parentage
LGBTQ Parentage Progress in 2025 and What Lies Ahead
Despite increasing anti-LGBTQ rhetoric and policies across the United States, 2025 saw several states pass parentage legislation that will help make LGBTQ families more secure. Polly Crozier, director of family advocacy at GLAD Law, spoke with me about the progress and what might be in store for 2026.
Illinois Passes Equality for Every Family Act to Better Protect Children of LGBTQ Parents
The Illinois General Assembly yesterday passed the Equality for Every Family Act (HB 2568), which updates the state’s parentage laws to better protect the children of LGBTQ parents and others formed via assisted reproduction.
Georgia Court Affirms Nongestational Mother’s Rights
In a win for queer families, a Georgia appeals court has affirmed that a nongestational mother is a legal parent to the child she and her then-spouse had via assisted insemination. It’s great news—but should also serve as a cautionary tale.
Hawaii Updates Parentage Laws to Better Protect Children in LGBTQ and Other Families
Children in Hawaii with LGBTQ parents now have access to more secure legal protections, after Hawaii Governor Josh Green (D) yesterday signed legislation updating the state’s parentage laws to be more inclusive of them and other children formed via assisted reproduction.
New Nevada Law Will Help LGBTQ Parents Confirm Legal Parentage
A new Nevada law will make it easier for nongestational LGBTQ parents to confirm their legal parentage via adoption, without burdensome and unnecessary requirements. Nevada becomes the 11th state to enact such legislation, less than two weeks after Vermont became the 10th.
New Vermont Law Will Make It Easier for LGBTQ Parents to Confirm Legal Parentage
The Republican governor of Vermont, Phil Scott, signed a bill May 22 that will make it easier for nongestational LGBTQ parents to confirm their legal parentage via adoption, without burdensome and unnecessary requirements.
Italy to Recognize Two-Mom Couples as Legal Parents
Italy’s Constitutional Court has ruled that both mothers in same-sex couples must be allowed on their children’s birth certificates and be recognized as legal parents. The landmark ruling comes after the far-right government had forbidden nongestational mothers from being on their children’s birth certificates and even removed ones who were there.
Angie Craig, Who Fought to Be a Parent, Announces Senate Campaign
U.S. Representative Angie Craig (D-MN), the first out lesbian mom—and grandmother—in Congress, announced her campaign for Senate Tuesday and cited her legal struggle to be a parent as evidence of her ability to fight despite long odds.
LGBTQ Parentage Rights at Issue in Ohio Supreme Court
The Ohio Supreme Court will consider a case tomorrow about the legal parentage of nongenetic/nongestational parents in same-sex couples who had children before they could legally wed. It underscores the pressing need for updated parentage legislation around the country.