For Immediate Release

February 13, 2020

Contact:

RIPE Coalition Member Wendy Becker; 401-477-4154
Amanda Johnston, GLAD, 617-417-7769; ajohnston@glad.org

 

Rhode Islanders for Parentage Equality Statement on House Introduction of the Rhode Island Uniform Parentage Act

 

Providence –Yesterday, the Rhode Island House of Representatives introduced H 7541, The Rhode Island Uniform Parentage Act (RIUPA)

“We are pleased to see the House moving forward on urgently needed updates to Rhode Island’s outdated parentage law, which leaves too many children vulnerable and without a path to legal parentage,” said Julie Keller, Rhode Islanders for Parentage Equality coalition member and parent. “All of our children deserve the security of a legal tie to their parents. Current law leaves many families unprotected and discriminates against children based on the circumstances of their birth. While the bill introduced in the House goes a long way toward addressing children’s needs, we do have concerns about some language in the bill that does not follow best practices and creates confusion, which may create gaps in protections. We look forward to working with the House to address these important concerns and to ensure that Rhode Island passes a model parentage law this session that fully protects all Rhode Island children.”

Earlier this week, the Rhode Island Senate voted unanimously to pass its version of the Rhode Island Uniform Parentage Act, S2136 Sub A.

The Rhode Island Uniform Parentage Act passed by the Senate was supported by numerous Rhode Island families,  the Academy of Adoption & Assisted Reproduction Attorneys, Adoption Rhode Island, the American Academy of Pediatrics, Rhode Island Chapter, Brown College Democrats, College Democrats of Rhode Island, Fertility Within Reach, GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders, LGBTQ Action Rhode Island, the National Association of Social Workers, Rhode Island Chapter,  Planned Parenthood of Southern New England, New England Surrogacy, NOW Rhode Island, Resolve New England, Rhode Island Academy of Family Physicians, Rhode Island Affiliate of the American College of Nurse Midwives, the Rhode Island Coalition for Reproductive Freedom, the Rhode Island Medical Society, Rhode Island State Nurses Association, TGI Network Rhode Island, Thundermist Health Center, and the WOMXN Project.

For more information about the Rhode Island Uniform Parentage Act, including a fact sheet and an updated supporter list visit www.glad.org/ripe. To speak to parents who have been impacted by Rhode Island’s outdated parentage law, contact Wendy Becker at 401-477-4154.

###

Rhode Islanders for Parentage Equality (RIPE) is a coalition of parents and organizations working to ensure Rhode Island parentage law is constitutional and protects all children.