In this Daily Signal article, Tyler O’Neil reports on a new Them Before Us scorecard arguing that state family policy should prioritize children’s rights over adult desires.
- Them Before Us released a state-by-state “Children’s Rights Report Card” evaluating policies on parentage, surrogacy, donor conception, and marriage.
- The group argues that no-fault divorce, same-sex marriage, assisted reproductive technologies, and intent-based parentage laws have weakened children’s connection to their biological mother and father.
- Founder Katy Faust says the scorecard is meant to offer concrete reforms rather than merely lamenting family breakdown, falling birth rates, and rising instability for children.
- The scoring criteria examine whether states use terms such as “mother” and “father,” allow more than two legal parents, recognize intent-based parentage, or permit commercial surrogacy.
- The report also reviews whether states ban anonymous sperm and egg donation, restrict gamete donation frequency, redefine infertility, or treat IVF as a legal entitlement.
- Nebraska received the highest score, an “A-,” while Indiana, Arizona, Kentucky, and Missouri earned “B” grades.
- Washington, D.C., received the worst score, followed by Maine, Washington, Hawaii, and California.
- The article highlights testimonials from people affected by surrogacy and divorce, presenting them as examples of children harmed by adult-centered family policies.
- The broader argument is that social policy should be rebuilt around the needs of children rather than the demands of adults seeking legal recognition, reproductive access, or family arrangements detached from biological parenthood.
Read the full story: https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/05/19/how-can-social-policy-stop-lgbtq-assault-childrens-rights/
