TRENTON, N.J. – A new bill introduced by New Jersey State Senator Holly Schepisi (R-39) seeks to prevent hospitals from asking parents to disclose the sexual orientation and gender identity of their newborn babies.
The proposed legislation comes after reports that some hospitals in New Jersey have been asking parents to specify their newborn’s gender identity when registering the child. This includes options such as male, female, transgender, nonbinary, genderfluid, and others, raising concerns that the questions may be an unnecessary and overreaching practice.
Schepisi, who is sponsoring the bill, called the practice a waste of medical resources and argued that it serves no medical purpose.
“Mandating that parents identify the sexual orientation and gender identity of their newborn child is an absurd waste of medical professionals’ time and resources,” Schepisi said. “This form serves no practical medical purpose for the care of a newborn baby. My legislation would rescind this ridiculous mandate passed by Trenton Democrats.”
The move has sparked criticism from conservatives, who argue that it is part of a broader political agenda. Schepisi emphasized that newborns need immediate medical attention, not identity labels.
“Newborns need quality medical care when they enter this world, not a checklist of identity labels that have no relevance at birth,” she said.
If the bill passes, it would prohibit hospitals and medical providers from collecting sexual orientation and gender identity data for infants and minors.
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