New York Democrats Advance Bill Replacing ‘Mother’ and ‘Father’ in State Law With Woke Terminology
A New York bill advancing through the state legislature has ignited a sharp political firestorm after lawmakers moved to replace traditional references to “mother” and “father” in state law with gender-neutral terminology.
At the center of the proposal is a sweeping rewrite of family-related statutory language.
Under the bill, “mother” would be replaced with terms such as “gestating parent,” while “father” would be replaced with “non-gestating parent” or simply “parent” in various sections of state law, including domestic relations, education, and custody statutes.
Legal terminology would also shift, with “paternity” cases becoming “parentage proceedings,” and “putative father” replaced with “alleged parent” in official records.
The legislation has cleared both chambers of the New York Legislature and now awaits review by Gov. Kathy Hochul (D), who has not yet taken a formal position on the measure.
Sponsored by Sen. Luis Sepúlveda of the Bronx and Assemblywoman Amy Paulin of Westchester, the bill is part of a broader effort to align statutory language with existing family court practices involving adoption, surrogacy, and same-sex parenting arrangements.
The proposal immediately triggered backlash from Republican lawmakers and conservative groups, who argue the language changes go far beyond technical legal updates.
Critics say the bill reflects ideological priorities at a time when New Yorkers are grappling with inflation, housing costs, and public safety concerns, according to the New York Post.
New York Conservative Party Chairman Gerard Kassar sharply criticized the measure, calling it an example of “woke culture run amok” and arguing that Albany lawmakers are out of touch with everyday concerns.
He warned that the proposal could open the door to further politically driven revisions of commonly used legal language, Sky News reported.
Republican elected officials also seized on the bill as an example of progressive overreach.
GOP gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman described the measure as an “attack on families,” arguing that replacing “mom and dad” terminology reflects a broader political effort to reshape cultural norms through legislation.
Rep. Claudia Tenney echoed those concerns, saying lawmakers should prioritize economic pressures and public safety rather than revising parental language in state law.
Supporters of the legislation counter that the updates reflect existing legal realities already present in New York family courts.
They argue that traditional terms such as “mother” and “father” do not always align with how parentage is established in cases involving surrogacy, adoption, or same-sex couples, where legal parenthood is not always tied to biological roles.
Legal experts say the shift toward gender-neutral terminology is intended to create consistency across statutes and reduce ambiguity in court proceedings.
Under this view, terms like “parentage” are meant to better reflect how custody and parental rights are determined under modern family law frameworks.
Hochul has not yet indicated whether she will sign the legislation, stating she has not fully reviewed the bill.
Her office has said she will evaluate it once it formally reaches her desk, drawing attention given her past support for broader gender-neutral language initiatives in state government documents.
The debate is part of a broader trend in New York toward gender-neutral legal language.
In recent years, state policy has already moved toward replacing gendered terms in certain official documents, while New York City previously approved allowing an “X” gender marker on birth certificates for non-binary residents.
As the bill moves toward final consideration, it has become a flashpoint in the wider political battle over cultural policy in New York, with supporters framing it as legal modernization and opponents warning it represents a fundamental shift in how family is defined in state law.
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