Parentage Act Secures Major Victory with Final Enactment by House and Senate

Governor Healey Has Voiced Support for Historic Legislation That Will Protect All Massachusetts Children and Families

BOSTON – After years of advocacy, the Massachusetts House of Representatives and Senate early Thursday morning enacted an Loi visant à garantir l'égalité de filiation juridique, mieux connu sous le nom de Loi sur la filiation du Massachusetts. The child-centered bill, which updates Massachusetts’ forty-year-old parentage statutes to be inclusive of LGBTQ+ families, families formed through assisted reproduction, and families that include a de facto or functional parent, now heads to Governor Maura Healey’s desk for her signature. Once signed into law, this historic legislation will ensure all children have equal access to the security of a legal parent-child relationship no matter the gender or marital status of their parents or how their family is formed. 

The bipartisan legislation was passed unanimously in both the House and Senate. Governor Healey has stated strong support for the bill.

“After more than seven years of advocacy, so many children and families in Massachusetts – and countless future generations – will now have the basic protections that legal parentage provides for children,” said Polly Crozier, Director of Family Advocacy at GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD). “We thank Massachusetts legislators, especially the bill co-sponsors and the leaders of the House and Senate, for recognizing the importance of parentage equality and making it a priority to enact this bill.  We are now eager for Governor Healey to sign the MPA into law so that Massachusetts can ensure security for all children and families.” 

The MPA will update Massachusetts statutes to clarify who can be a parent and how to establish parentage. Legal parentage is critical for children’s wellbeing and security and this bill will ensure that all children can access the security of legal parentage regardless of the circumstances of their birth or the makeup of their family.

Currently, Massachusetts is the only state in New England without comprehensive statutory protections on parentage. 

The bill’s bipartisan sponsors include Senators Julian Cyr (D) and Bruce Tarr (R), Representatives Sarah Peake (D), Hannah Kane (R), and Kay Khan (D). 

The Massachusetts Parentage Act is supported by a coalition of parents, families and over 60 organizations: 

AllPaths Family Building, Académie américaine des avocats spécialisés en adoption et en procréation assistée, Collège américain des obstétriciens et gynécologues du Massachusetts, ACLU du Massachusetts, Société américaine de médecine de la reproduction, Association des tribunaux de la famille et de conciliation – Chapitre du Massachusetts, BAGLY, Baystate Health, Clinique de fertilité Boston IVF, Centre médical de Boston, Cape Cod Healthcare, Inc., Centre pour les droits reproductifs, Centre de droit de l'enfance du Massachusetts, Ligue des enfants du Massachusetts, Cercle de maternité de substitution et de don d'ovules, Citoyens pour la justice des mineurs, COLAGE, Comité des services de conseil public, Conceiveabilities, Csed Inc. (Centre de maternité de substitution et de don d'ovules), Fondation Eastern Bank, Égalité des familles, Fenway Health, Fertility Within Reach, Friends of Children, Défenseurs juridiques LGBTQ (GLAD), Greater Boston Family Law Inn of Courts, Greater Boston PFLAG, Campagne pour les droits de l'homme, Alliance juive pour le droit et l'action sociale, Kauffman Law and Mediation, Keshet, Mass. General Brigham, Mass. Français NOW, Mass PPD Fund, Massachusetts Advocates for Children, Chapitre du Massachusetts de l'Académie américaine de pédiatrie, Commission du Massachusetts sur la jeunesse LGBTQ, Commission du Massachusetts sur le statut de la femme, Association du barreau LGBTQ du Massachusetts, Caucus politique LGBTQ du Massachusetts, Société médicale du Massachusetts, Société du Massachusetts pour la prévention de la cruauté envers les enfants, Chambre de commerce LGBT du Massachusetts, Coalition politique trans du Massachusetts, MassEquality, Comité des conseillers juridiques en santé mentale, Droit de la famille moderne, Bruce Hale, Esq., Projet d'avancement du mouvement, Association nationale des travailleurs sociaux - Chapitre du Massachusetts, Centre national pour les droits des lesbiennes, Société de fertilité de la Nouvelle-Angleterre, Surrogacy de la Nouvelle-Angleterre, Nichols, Delisle & Lightholder, OUT MetroWest, Ligue pour le planning familial du Massachusetts, Progressive Massachusetts, Reproductive Equity Now, RESOLVE : L'Association nationale de l'infertilité, Roxbury Youth Works, SeedTrust, SEIU 509, Transhealth, Fondation de Boston, UMass Memorial Health et Institut Williams sur le droit et les politiques publiques en matière d'orientation sexuelle et d'identité de genre.

Learn more about the Massachusetts Parentage Act