Daryl Metcalfe

The governor and a local group supporting gay, lesbian and transgender citizens disagree with Butler County Controller Ben Holland and state Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, R-12th, on the recent birth certificate debate.

Holland contacted Metcalfe after he noticed that his 4-month-old son's birth certificate says “parent” and “parent” instead of “mother” and “father,” which he called wrong and concerning.

“It's bothersome to my wife and I because how can you ignore the science,” Holland said earlier this week. “Every child biologically has one mother and one father.”

Metcalfe responded by sending a letter to Gov. Tom Wolf and 26 state legislators stating that the change violates state law because it was not brought before the General Assembly. He requested that the change be rescinded.

Metcalfe also complained about the “significant fiscal impact” on the Bureau of Vital Statistics and that a change back to “mother” and “father” would cost the department millions of dollars.

On Tuesday, Wolf's press secretary J.J. Abbott said the change was made to reflect Pennsylvania's new, inclusive laws.

“The Department of Health updated birth certificates to include all families and reflect the fact that same-sex marriage is the law of the land in Pennsylvania,” Abbott said. “Governor Wolf continues to support making government more respectful of all families and will continue to ensure state government treats all families with the dignity that they deserve.”

Sabrina Schnur, an officer with Butler County PFLAG, said Metcalfe is simply trying to rile up his base constituents and did not think his comments through.

Schnur said using “parent” is not taking anything away from the mother and father and protects some mothers when it comes time to give information for a baby's birth certificate.

“What about a mother who used a sperm donor? What if she is a rape victim? Does she put the rapist's name under 'father?' What if she doesn't know? Does she put 'unknown?'” Schnur said. “This is a very slippery slope to just say 'it should be 'mother' and 'father'.”

Schnur also questioned Metcalfe's longtime contention that he is a fiscal conservative when he is advocating spending millions in taxpayer dollars to change the birth certificates back.

Regarding Metcalfe's claim that the state made the change to avoid a lawsuit, Schnur said that was the financially responsible thing to do to avoid any expenditure of taxpayer money for legal fees in such a lawsuit.

Schnur, who transgendered several years ago, said she has seen more anti-LGBT rhetoric since President Donald Trump took office.

“It's something for them to yell about and say 'this is another social experiment,'” Schnur said. “We have to go into our corners and fight about something that, to me, isn't taking anything away from anybody.”

She said the change on the birth certificates was a positive move.

“PFLAG is happy with it because it helps the LGBT, but it also helps so many more people,” Schnur said. “It's a win-win for everybody and hurts nobody.”