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Massachusetts marks parental equality with enactment of Parentage Act
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Summary
Officials, advocates and family members gathered at a ceremonial event where speakers celebrated enactment of the Massachusetts Parentage Act, a measure supporters say extends legal parentage protections for families who use reproductive technologies and nontraditional family arrangements.
Supporters and families celebrated a ceremonial enactment of the Massachusetts Parentage Act at a public event where advocates, lawmakers and family members described the law as closing longstanding gaps in parentage protections.
Speakers said the law will protect children and families who rely on assisted reproduction or nontraditional parenting arrangements. Polly Crozier of GLAAD said the change gives families "equal protection under the law," adding, "Now all children and families have equality in parentage." The event featured personal testimony from people who said they had previously faced legal and financial hardship under older statutes.
The law’s backers said passage was the result of years of coalition work across legal, medical and advocacy organizations. Crozier and other advocates credited legislative leaders, judiciary chairs and members of both chambers for swift action in conference committee that allowed the measure to pass the current session. One speaker noted that the bill draws on the Uniform Parentage Act (2017) and that similar statutes have been implemented in other states.
Two people who described direct harms under prior law offered firsthand accounts. Karen Partinan recounted a prior Supreme Judicial Court case and told the gathering that, during her family’s separation, she had been told "I wasn't my children's parent anymore," a situation she said led to financial strain and emotional harm. Young speaker Darmani Jimenez described being raised by a parent who had to pursue recognition through court, saying his family frequently lacked the protections of legal parentage and that the new law will provide recognition and security.
Speakers also thanked the state executive branch and advocacy partners. Organizers named GLAD (GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders), All Paths Family Building and the Massachusetts Parentage Act coalition among groups that lobbied for the change. Multiple legislators and legislative leaders were singled out by name for their roles in sponsoring and shepherding the bill to passage.
Event participants said the law will affect families who use reproductive technologies and those in nontraditional parenting arrangements by improving access to benefits, medical-decision authority and other legal protections.
Officials moved from remarks to the ceremonial signing during the event. Attendees described the occasion as the culmination of years of advocacy and legislative work; the program then proceeded to the signing.
The event closed after the ceremonial signing and acknowledgments; advocates and families said they expect the law to reduce the need for separate adoption or court processes to establish parentage in many cases.
