Calls Grow to Preserve Parental Titles in New York Legislation

WHO:

Fox News - Hempstead Township Supervisor John Ferretti criticized the New York legislation.

Fox News - Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman opposed the bill on social media.

Fox News - Maggie McKneely from Concerned Women for America Legislative Action Committee expressed concerns about the bill.

WHAT:

Fox News - New York State Legislature passed a bill to replace "mother" with "gestating parent" and "father" with "non-gestating parent."

Fox News - Hempstead Township passed an emergency resolution to preserve the terms "mother" and "father" in local laws.

Fox News - The bill is awaiting action from Democrat Governor Kathy Hochul.

WHERE:

Fox News - Hempstead Township, the largest township in America, located in Nassau County, New York.

Fox News - Mineola, New York, where Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman made a public statement.

WHEN:

Fox News - The legislative session ended last week, and Hochul has until the end of the year to sign the bill into law.

Fox News - An emergency resolution was discussed ahead of an approaching winter storm on January 23, 2026.

WHY:

Fox News - Democrats claim the bill aims to be more inclusive of residents with non-traditional gender identities.

Fox News - Ferretti described the legislation as "woke nonsense" and an insult to traditional family values.

HOW:

Fox News - The emergency resolution in Hempstead is intended to ensure the town continues recognizing "mother" and "father" in its laws and policies, regardless of the state measure.

(UPDATED June 11, 2026 12:25 UTC)

The New York State Legislature has passed a bill that would replace the terms "mother" and "father" with "gestating parent" and "non-gestating parent," a move that has drawn criticism from local leaders. Hempstead Township Supervisor John Ferretti called the legislation "woke nonsense," while Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman expressed his opposition on social media, prompting Hempstead to adopt an emergency resolution to preserve traditional family terms in local laws. The bill is now awaiting action from Governor Kathy Hochul, who has until the end of the year to decide its fate.