(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that he has signed into law legislation enacting the Connecticut Parentage Act, which ensures that all children have equal access to the security of a legal parent-child relationship, regardless of their parents’ sexual orientation or gender. In addition, the act recognizes that all children are deserving of the same protection that legal parentage provides by making it easier to establish parentage at birth, regardless of whether the child is born to married parents. It also provides important protections for intended parents of children who are born through assisted reproduction.
Governor Lamont noted that Connecticut historically has been one of the leading states in the nation in protecting the rights of LGBTQ individuals and families, and this act is another step forward in ensuring equal rights for everyone, no matter their sexual orientation.
“I’m incredibly proud that Connecticut has been at the forefront of so many LGBTQ issues, and the legislation I signed today is another step forward in that movement to help break down bureaucratic barriers that families can face simply because of the sexual orientation or gender of the parents,” Governor Lamont said. “I particularly want to thank State Representative Jeff Currey of East Hartford for shining a light on the unequal ways the law has continued to treat different-sex parents and same-sex parents, and helping lead a coalition that advanced this legislation to my desk. Any day that we can expand equal protection for all individuals is a good day.”
The legislation is Public Act 21-15.