Parents asked if newborn babies identify as transgender
Parents are asked if their newborn babies identify as transgender on a form that is required under New Jersey state law, it has been claimed.
A form distributed by several hospitals asks parents about their newborn baby's gender identity and sexual orientation.
Lawmakers said that the form was not required to be filled out for patients so young, however, the group which represents the hospitals distributing the form insisted it was a legal requirement.
The form asks parents a number of questions, including: 'Do you identify your baby as a transgender male/ trans man/ female to male', other options include 'genderqueer' or an 'additional gender category', and if the baby is lesbian or gay, heterosexual, 'self-describes' or is 'questioning/unsure'.
The form was produced by Inspira Health, which operates four hospitals and eight health centres across the state, the New York Post reports.
Inspira claims that it created the questionnaire to comply with a New Jersey law requiring healthcare providers to 'collect race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and gender identity in a culturally competent and sensitive manner'.
The questions are intended to 'provide a safe and compassionate experience' and 'comply with recently-enacted state legislation', the form states.
Republican State Senator Holly Schepisi told the Post: 'The entire thing lacks such common sense, and serves no purpose whatsoever.
'As a mom myself, I know you're exhausted after giving birth, you've got a crying newborn and you're trying to figure out how to feed it. To be handed that sort of form in the midst of all that has no medical value, it makes no sense.'
She added that she would introduce a bill next week to revise New Jersey law to limit the data collection to patients aged over 16 years.
'No parent obligated to answer question'
However, Democrat Herbert Conaway, who worked on the bill, said that it was never intended to collect information about babies' sexual orientation.
'The bill was modelled after an Indiana statute and is designed to provide public health officials with the data they need to develop public health measures that effectively serve all New Jerseyans,' Mr Conaway said.
'Under the law, hospitals are required to collect and report demographic data on the patients they serve; however, no patient or parent is obligated to answer any question that makes them uncomfortable.
He continued: 'Newborns are not subjected to this data collection because parents are not required to fill out the form. Many health decisions for newborns are left to the parents' discretion.'
An Inspira Health spokesman said the questionnaire is 'required by New Jersey law' and noted parents 'are permitted to decline to provide this information'.
He added that the company had sought a waiver from the state but that it had not been granted.
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