NY Dems remove word 'mother' in legislation, replace it with 'gestating parent'

Through a new piece of legislation, New York Democrats have replaced the word "mother" with "gestating parent" in a number of state laws. The law erases "mother" as well as "father." The latter term has been changed to "non-gestating parent." The bill will now go to New York Governor Kathy Hochul's desk for her to sign.

The supposed "gender-neutral" rewrite of laws was passed this week by the Democrats in the state legislature. “Paternity” cases will now be known as "parentage" cases under the bill. Other language of the legislation includes changing "putative father" to "an alleged parent" in official state records. The bill, S9316, was sponsored by state Senator Luis Sepulveda and Assemblywoman Amy Paulin, both Democrats.

Former longtime New York state Senate and Assembly staffer Gerard Kassar, who now serves as Conservative Party of New York Chairman, said, "It’s woke culture run amok. It’s one-upmanship." He added, “It’s an example of how out of tune the New York legislature is. It’s an unnecessary and wasteful use of time."

“Democrats led by Kathy Hochul have continued their declaration of war on New York families by canceling the loving terms of Mom and Dad and replacing them with ‘gestating and non-gestating parent,'" GOP candidate for New York governor Bruce Blakeman said in response to the bill, per the New York Post.

“At a time when New Yorkers are being crushed by utility bills, rising costs, and public safety concerns, Albany Democrats have decided one of their final priorities in the last days of session should be replacing mothers and fathers in state law,” said GOP state Senator Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick. “That is not what families are asking for. I am a mother and proud to be called ‘mother.’

“New Yorkers are proud to celebrate moms and dads, and they would rather we, as lawmakers, focus on the issues that actually matter,” she added.