Just when New Yorkers thought Albany had run out of ways to alienate ordinary families, state Democrats have cooked up another culture-war controversy — this time by taking aim at two of the most basic words in the English language: “mother” and “father.”
The proposal, which cleared the New York State Senate and now awaits review by Gov. Kathy Hochul, would replace traditional parental terms in portions of state law with gender-neutral alternatives. Under the legislation, “mother” would become “gestating parent,” “father” would become “non-gestating parent,” and references to “paternity” would be swapped out for “parentage.”
Supporters say the changes are intended to make legal language more inclusive. Critics see something else entirely: another attempt by progressive lawmakers to scrub ordinary language from public life in pursuit of ideological goals.
Few voices were louder than Fox Business and Fox News host Maria Bartiromo, who erupted after the proposal came up during a discussion with Rep. Claudia Tenney, a Republican representing New York.
“That’s disgusting, OK! That is DISGUSTING!”
Moments later, she doubled down after hearing details of the legislation. “I saw that, Oh my God! We’re not supposed to say mother and father now?!”
Bartiromo argued that the language shift diminishes the significance of motherhood and fatherhood, expressing disbelief that lawmakers would seek to replace terms that have been universally understood for generations. “What a mother goes through — a woman goes through to have a child and to raise that child, and parents — now we have to take that away from them? Calling them mother and father?!”
Tenney agreed, calling the proposal an “absurdity” and using it as an example of what she sees as a growing disconnect between Democratic politicians and everyday voters.
The congresswoman argued that policies like this are fueling the continued migration of residents from high-tax, heavily regulated blue states to places such as Florida and Texas, states that have attracted hundreds of thousands of former New Yorkers in recent years. Census and migration data have repeatedly shown New York among the nation’s biggest losers of domestic population, while Florida has remained one of the largest gainers.
For conservatives, the controversy taps into a broader frustration with progressive efforts to replace traditional language involving sex, family and parenthood. Similar debates have erupted across the country over terms such as “birthing person,” “chestfeeding,” and other bureaucratic alternatives that critics say sound more like language generated by a government committee than words used by actual families.
Democratic sponsors of the legislation insist the measure is designed to ensure state laws account for a variety of family structures and circumstances. Opponents counter that inclusion does not require erasing terms that describe biological realities recognized by virtually everyone.
Gov. Hochul has not indicated whether she supports the bill. Asked about it recently, the governor said she had not yet reviewed the proposal and declined to take a position while it remains pending. “I have until the end of the year to review them and make a decision, so I won’t be commenting on pending legislation,” Hochul said.
The battle now heads to the governor’s desk, where Hochul will decide whether New York officially joins the growing movement to replace traditional parental language with gender-neutral terminology.
Bartiromo: We’re not supposed to say mother and father now? THAT’S DISGUSTING! THAT IS DISGUSTING! pic.twitter.com/nIyAHJ7S9I
— Acyn (@Acyn) June 7, 2026
