James Maroney

State Senator James Maroney Votes in Favor of Bill that Extends Protections to Connecticut Children Regardless of Their Birth or Their Parents’ Marital Status, Gender, or Sexual Orientation

Today, State Senator James Maroney (D-Milford) voted in favor of a bill that provides equal treatment for children born to same-sex couples. House Bill 6321, ‘ An Act Concerning Adoption And Implementation Of The Connecticut Parentage Act,’ extends protections to all CT children regardless of the circumstances of their birth or their parents’ marital status, gender, or sexual orientation. The bill passed tonight in the state Senate, and recently passed by the state House of Representatives, now heads to Governor Lamont to be signed.

“Every single parent deserves the same type of support no matter their marital status,” said Sen. Maroney. “A parents’ gender, sexual orientation, or marital status has nothing to do with the amount of love they have for their child. This legislation to protect the relationship between a child and his or her parents is long overdue.”

The CPA would modernize Connecticut law by ensuring access to legal parentage for all children, including those with unmarried, same-gender, or non-biological parents. For example, it would extend to same-gender couples access to the Acknowledgement of Parentage process, a simple form already available to unmarried different-gender couples that allows a parent to establish a legal parent-child relationship at birth without court proceedings. The bill would also provide protections for children conceived through assisted reproduction, which account for four percent of all Connecticut births.

According to the Yale Law School Clinic, Connecticut is the only New England state without protections or paths to parentage for non-biological parents to establish their legal relationship with their children. This means the legal relationship between many of the state’s LGBTQ parents and their children is insecure, which leaves children vulnerable. The CPA will fill gaps in existing law and ensure equal access to legal parentage for all children, including those with unmarried, same-sex, or nonbiological parents.

Parentage refers to the legal parent-child relationship, and this legal bond is core to a child’s stability and security. Legal parentage comes with a number of rights such as custody, parenting time, and decision making. And it also comes with numerous responsibilities such as providing care, financial support, and health insurance.

Establishing parentage quickly ensures that a child is secured to their parents for all purposes and increases clarity for all involved in a child’s life. This is particularly important if a problem arises; for example, legal parents are able to make medical decisions, to provide health insurance and other benefits, and to ensure that their child inherits in the event of death.