Rep. Klarides-Ditria Attends Parentage Act Bill Signing

On the first day of Pride Month – June 1, 2021 – Rep. Nicole Klarides-Ditria joined her colleagues from both sides of the aisle to witness Governor Lamont’s ceremonial bill signing of  House bill 6321 – An Act Concerning Adoption and Implementation of the Connecticut Parentage Act.

According to an analysis by the non-partisan Office of Legislative Research, among other things, House Bill 6321 – An Act Concerning Adoption and Implementation of the Connecticut Parentage Act – provides for equal treatment under the law for children born to same-sex couples by removing certain gender-specific references (e.g., changing “maternity” and “paternity” to “parentage”); expands recognition of non-biological parents by (a) making marital or “hold-out” presumptions gender neutral and (b) establishing de facto parentage (i.e., the court adjudicates a person to be a parent under certain circumstances); and provides guidance on adjudicating parentage and adjudicating competing claims of parentage.

It took several years for this measure to be crafted and included important input from advocates, allies and many current and former legislators.

“I was proud to cosponsor this bill to allow same-sex couples the same rights as heterosexual couples, and I want to thank the many passionate advocates, especially Representative Currey and former House Republican Leader Themis Klarides – that have worked so tirelessly to get this passed,” Rep. Klarides-Ditria said. “Love is love and it’s well past time we allow parents to spend time with their newborn instead of worrying about a months-long process of a second parent adoption.”