Officials in the Town of Hempstead, the largest township in the United States, are moving to formally oppose a New York state bill that would replace traditional parental terms such as “mother” and “father” with gender-neutral language in portions of state law.
The legislation, recently approved by the New York State Legislature, would substitute terms including “gestating parent” and “non-gestating parent” in certain statutes. It would also replace the word “paternity” with “parentage.” Supporters of the measure argue that the changes are intended to make state law more inclusive of residents with non-traditional gender identities.
The bill is now awaiting consideration by Gov. Kathy Hochul, who has until the end of the year to decide whether to sign it into law.
In response, Hempstead Township officials introduced an emergency resolution aimed at preserving the use of the terms “mother” and “father” within the township’s own laws and policies, regardless of what happens at the state level.
Town Supervisor John Ferretti strongly criticized the legislation, describing it as an unnecessary effort to remove longstanding family terminology from state law. Ferretti said the issue became personal after discussing the bill with his wife at home, a conversation that was overheard by their young daughter.
According to Ferretti, his daughter became concerned and asked whether she would still be able to call him “dad,” a moment he said reinforced his belief that local leaders should publicly oppose the measure.
Ferretti argued that lawmakers could have added alternative language without replacing traditional terms altogether. He contended that the legislation goes beyond inclusion and instead removes words that have long been used to describe parents and families.
“We're taking a stand because we will not allow woke Democrat liberals in New York State and the New York State Legislature to erase the traditional family,” Ferretti said.
The township's resolution has reportedly received support from several Republican lawmakers representing Nassau County, including state and assembly leaders who have also voiced opposition to the bill.
Meanwhile, Gov. Hochul has declined to comment on the legislation's merits, noting that she has not yet completed her review of pending bills from the legislative session.
The debate highlights a broader cultural and political battle taking place across the country over language, family definitions, and the role government should play in updating legal terminology. Critics argue that replacing words like “mother” and “father” disconnects laws from widely understood family relationships, while supporters maintain that gender-neutral language better reflects modern society.
As New York awaits the governor’s decision, Hempstead’s action signals that resistance to the proposal is unlikely to fade. For many opponents of the bill, the issue is about more than legal wording—it is about preserving terms that remain central to family life and common sense. And if the reaction from local officials is any indication, this debate is far from over.
