National Education Association Debates On Whether To Replace “Birthing Parent” Over “Mother”

Leaked documents from a meeting by the nation’s largest teachers union allegedly show the National Education Association (NEA) is debating on a proposal that pushes the use of “LGBTQIA+ inclusive” language, like “birthing parent” instead of “mother” and “non-birthing parent” instead of “father,” in formal language used by both state and local educational entities. 

“NEA will inform states and locals of the following sample language that may be put in contracts that is LGBTQIA+ inclusive,” the alleged NEA proposal for a resolution titled NBI 63 reads. “ ‘Parental leave’ instead of ‘maternity leave,’ ‘parent’ instead of ‘mother’ or ‘father,’ ‘birthing parent’ instead of ‘mother,’ and ‘non-birthing parent’ instead of ‘father,’” the proposal continued. 

The association came up with a possible resolution Wednesday that would change the word “mother” in contracts to “birthing parent” to be more inclusive to trans parents.

The White House has refused to comment on the consideration, which did not receive a vote, Fox News reported.

The NEA’s alleged proposal uses such language that would relieve members of their anxiety over “how a Board of Education/solicitor defines ‘maternity leave,’ ‘mother,’ and/or ‘father,’” and is a reflection of “how LGBTQIA+ members build their families.”

An NEA spokesperson spoke with The National Desk (TND) and was told that “Every year, NEA members submit New Business Items concerning a wide range of issues.”

“Some are intimately tied to NEA operations, and others reflect policy positions delegates would like the organization and its state-level affiliates to take,” they added, saying the group “is committed to democratic processes and open debate,” values of which the spokesperson noted are “fundamental not just to NEA’s vision as a union but to our functioning as a multiracial democracy.” 

The NEA spokesperson denied that the inclusive language resolution was debated this week at its “Representative Assembly” held this week in Chicago. 

“NBI 63 was not considered by the 2022 NEA RA,” the spokesperson informed TND.

Terry Stoops, director of the conservative John Locke Foundation’s Center for Effective Education, posted the images of various proposals the association was debating at its conference, NBC 24 News reported.

Stoops was banned temporarily from Twitter because an image he posted included a proposal displaying an NEA Foundation board member’s name and email.