The Massachusetts Parentage Act (MPA) did not make it all the way through the legislative process before the session ended July 31. I’m disappointed that Massachusetts families remain without important parentage protections, putting them at risk and forcing them to take costly, humiliating, and time-consuming measures to ensure their kids are fully protected.

It’s particularly frustrating to witness the continuation of an unequal status quo even after the U.S. Supreme Court questioned the legitimacy of previous rulings on marriage and privacy rights for LGBTQ people in its Dobbs decision overturning the constitutional right to abortion. More than ever, we need state statutes that provide clarity and consistency for children born through assisted reproductive technology and families created through other paths to parenthood.

We formed the Massachusetts Parentage Act Coalition because every child in this Commonwealth deserves the security of legal parentage on the day they’re born, regardless of how their family was formed. We will not stop fighting for every family’s right to safety, security, and equality—including in the next legislative session.

Learn more about the MPA

The MPA coalition will press on, and I know you will too. We are more determined than ever. The work we’ve done to get to this point has been transformational. In the past two years, our coalition has grown to over 40 organizations, as well as many impacted families. The MPA secured some high-profile endorsements, including state Attorney General Maura Healey, the City of Boston, the Boston Globe, and Mass Lawyers Weekly. We’ve built greater awareness of the need to fully protect our families in the legislature, among legal advocates, and in our communities. The media is paying closer attention to the ways in which outdated parentage laws hurt LGBTQ+ families — and all children in our state.

What keeps me in this fight is knowing that it’s just a matter of time before justice and common sense prevail and Massachusetts law will respect and protect all children.

The Coalition will come back strong next session. We are grateful for your continued support and energy, and we will be in touch again soon about next steps. For now, please follow the Massachusetts Parentage Act Coalition on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram and invite your networks to do the same. You can also encourage family and friends to share their story and get updates at www.MassParentage.com.

Sign up for updates and get involved in the effort to pass the MPA next session