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 Lwa pou Asire Egalite Legal Paran yo, pi byen koni kòm la Lwa sou Parante Massachusetts la. 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 defakto 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, Akademi Ameriken pou Avoka Adopsyon ak Repwodiksyon Asiste, Kolèj Ameriken pou Obstetrisyen ak Jinekològ, Massachusetts, ACLU nan Massachusetts, Sosyete Ameriken pou Medsin Repwodiktif, Asosyasyon Tribinal Fanmi ak Konsilyasyon - Chapit MA, BAGLY, Baystate Health, Klinik Fètilite Boston IVF, Sant Medikal Boston, Cape Cod Healthcare, Inc., Sant pou Dwa Repwodiktif, Sant Lwa Timoun nan MA, Lig Timoun nan Massachusetts, Circle Surrogacy & Egg Donation, Sitwayen pou Jistis Jivenil, COLAGE, Komite pou Sèvis Konsèy Piblik, Conceiveabilities, Csed Inc. (Sant pou Surrogacy ak Donasyon Ze), Fondasyon Eastern Bank, Egalite Fanmi, Fenway Health, Fertility Within Reach, Zanmi Timoun yo, Defansè ak Defansè Legal GLBTQ (GLAD), Greater Boston Family Law Inn of Courts, Greater Boston PFLAG, Kanpay Dwa Moun, Alyans Jwif pou Lwa ak Aksyon Sosyal, Kauffman Law and Mediation, Keshet, Mass General Brigham, Mass NOW, Fon Mass PPD, Defansè Massachusetts pou Timoun, Chapit Massachusetts nan Akademi Ameriken pou Pedyatri, Komisyon Massachusetts sou Jèn LGBTQ, Komisyon Massachusetts sou Sitiyasyon Fanm, Asosyasyon Avoka LGBTQ Massachusetts, Gwoup Politik LGBTQ Massachusetts, Sosyete Medikal Massachusetts, Sosyete Massachusetts pou Prevansyon Krim sou Timoun, Chanm Komès LGBT Massachusetts, Kowalisyon Politik Trans Massachusetts, MassEquality, Komite Konseye Legal Sante Mantal, Lwa Fanmi Modèn, Bruce Hale, Esq., Pwojè Avansman Mouvman, Asosyasyon Nasyonal Travayè Sosyal–Chapit MA, Sant Nasyonal pou Dwa Lesbyèn, Sosyete Fètilite Nouvèl Angletè, Matènite Sou Plas Nouvèl Angletè, Nichols, Delisle & Lightholder, OUT MetroWest, Lig Planifikasyon Familial Massachusetts, Massachusetts Pwogresif, Ekite Repwodiktif Kounye a, RESOLVE: Asosyasyon Nasyonal Enfètilite a, Roxbury Youth Works, SeedTrust, SEIU 509, Transhealth, Fondasyon Boston, UMass Memorial Health, ak Enstiti Williams sou Oryantasyon Seksyèl ak Lwa Idantite Sèks ak Politik Piblik.

Learn more about the Massachusetts Parentage Act