ALBANY, N.Y. — New York Democrats have passed legislation that would replace references to “mother” and “father” in portions of state law with gender-neutral terms such as “gestating parent” and “non-gestating parent,” sparking outrage from critics who say lawmakers are erasing basic family language to advance progressive ideology.
The bill, which targets child custody and parental statutes, would also replace the term “paternity” with “parentage.” After passing the state assembly in March, the legislation cleared the Democrat-controlled Senate this week and now awaits action from Gov. Kathy Hochul.
Supporters of the measure argue the language changes are necessary to make state law more “inclusive” of different family structures and gender identities.
Critics, however, say the legislation reflects a growing effort by progressive lawmakers to replace widely understood terms such as “mother” and “father” with bureaucratic language disconnected from biological reality.
When asked about the bill during a news conference, Hochul said she had not yet reviewed the proposal.
“I have until the end of the year to review them and make a decision, so I won’t be commenting on pending legislation,” Hochul said.
The legislation immediately drew criticism from Republicans across New York and Washington.
Bruce Blakeman, the Republican candidate for governor, blasted the proposal on social media.
“In Kathy Hochul’s New York, ‘mom’ is now defined as ‘gestating parent,'” Blakeman wrote. “Not when I’m Governor! I’ll stand up for moms and dads against this insanity.”
Blakeman also accused Democrats of attacking traditional families.
“This bill is a continuation of Hochul’s war on families, and I won’t stop fighting until we take New York back,” he added.
Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-N.Y.) similarly criticized the legislation, arguing it reflects a broader push by Democrats to redefine longstanding cultural norms.
“The party that can’t define a woman is now rewriting New York law to erase mothers and fathers,” Tenney wrote on X. “Only in Albany could ‘mom’ and ‘dad’ become too controversial.”
The bill arrives amid an ongoing national debate over gender identity, parental rights, and the use of gender-neutral language in government documents, schools, and public policy.
If Hochul signs the legislation, New York would join a growing number of states and institutions adopting gender-neutral terminology in official documents and statutes.
For opponents, however, the proposal represents another example of government replacing common language with ideological terminology that many families neither use nor recognize.
Hochul has until the end of the year to decide whether to sign or veto the measure.
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