voluntary acknowledgement of parentage

2021 Year in Review for LGBTQ Families

“Changing the Landscape”: A 2021 Year in Review for LGBTQ Families

With 2021 drawing to a close, I asked experts at some of the leading organizations fighting for LGBTQ families what they thought were the key legal and political wins—and losses—for LGBTQ parents and our children over the past year. Here’s what they told me.

LGBTQ Parents, Children, and Others Testify on Impact of Outdated Parentage Laws

Queer parents, their children, LGBTQ and children’s rights advocates, and others told Massachusetts legislators Tuesday about the negative impact that the state’s outdated parentage laws have on people’s lives, and called for the state to update its statutes so that all children, including those born to LGBTQ parents, have equal access to legal parentage.

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Two Moms Sue Nebraska for Full, Equal Parentage Rights Over Their Children

Two women ex-partners are cooperatively suing the state of Nebraska for full, equal parentage rights over the children they had together. The case could mean the further expansion of voluntary acknowledgments of parentage—simple, free forms to establish legal parentage—to parents of all genders.

J. Shia and son, one of many families who found themselves unprotected under current Massachusetts law. See their story at massparentage.com. Photo courtesy of J. Shia.

Parentage Law in Massachusetts Is Outdated, but Bill Could Change That

Massachusetts, which led the nation in marriage equality, has fallen behind in protecting the children of LGBTQ parents. It is now the only New England state that has not comprehensively reformed its parentage laws to protect children regardless of the circumstances of their birth or the gender or marital status of their parents. The Massachusetts Parentage Act (MPA), a bill now in the Legislature, could change that.

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Connecticut Senate Unanimously Approves Bill Updating Parentage Laws to Protect Children of All Families

The Connecticut Senate last night unanimously passed the Connecticut Parentage Act (CPA), landmark legislation to update the state’s laws and better protect all children, regardless of the circumstances of their birth or the marital status, gender, or sexual orientation of their parents. Among other things, it gives nonbiological/nongestational parents a simpler way to establish a legal parent-child relationship, without a home study or court hearing. The bill passed the House last month and now goes to Governor Ned Lamont (D) for signing.

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Connecticut House Passes Bill to Update State’s Parentage Laws with Strong Bipartisan Support

The Connecticut House of Representatives today passed the Connecticut Parentage Act (CPA) 141-1, with many Republicans joining Democratic colleagues to speak out in strong support of the bill. The landmark legislation would update the state’s laws to better protect all children, regardless of the circumstances of their birth or the marital status, gender, or sexual orientation of their parents.

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Queer Parents and Advocates Testify to Update Connecticut Parentage Laws

Connecticut remains the only New England state that leaves children born to non-biological, non-marital parents wholly unprotected in its parentage laws. Queer parents, legal and medical experts, advocates, and others testified today in support of a bill that would change that.

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