At a State House ceremony on the south lawn, Governor Gina Raimondo signed the Rhode Island Uniform Parentage Act into law on July 21. The legislation updates the state’s parenting laws for the first time in 40 years, simplifying same-sex couple’s and others’ path to parenting.
The law (2020-H 7541Aaa, 2020-S 2136Baa) goes into effect January 1, 2021. It also eases the way for unmarried couples and all who rely on assisted reproduction and surrogacy.
As we reported earlier this week, the law “eliminates the need for families to undertake a ‘second-parent’ adoption for the non-birth parent, a process that same-sex couples faulted as discriminatory, demeaning and humiliating. It recognizes intended and presumptive parents,” according to The Providence Journal.
Reports the Journal on July 22:
“We can’t stop here,” Raimondo said, minutes before signing the legislation as about three dozen parents and children looked on. ”… Fundamentally, this is about securing equal rights under the law.”
Raimondo urged the state to continue to push toward greater equity on all fronts, including health care and education. …
GLAD [GLBTQ Advocates & Defenders] hailed its signing.
“Today Rhode Island has taken a huge leap forward in protecting children and families in the state,” Polly Crozier, senior staff attorney, who worked hard on its passage for years, said in a statement. ”… By eliminating discriminatory, costly, and invasive barriers and enacting comprehensive parentage reform, Rhode Island has said loud and clear that all children — whether they are born to LGBTQ parents; through assisted reproduction; or surrogacy, deserve to be protected in every jurisdiction by a secure legal connection to their parents.
“Now, every child in Rhode Island has access to legal parentage regardless of the marital status or gender of their parents or the circumstances of their birth.”
Not a subscriber? Sign up today for a free subscription to Boston Spirit magazine, New England’s premier LGBT magazine. We will send you a copy of Boston Spirit 6 times per year and we never sell/rent our subscriber information. Click HERE to sign up!
