Billboard Campaign Sparks Nationwide Backlash Over Traditional Parenting Terms

This month, the advocacy group Them Before Us placed billboards across the United States with the claim that each child is born of one mother and one father. The messaging quickly drew intense criticism from LGBT activists, who launched online campaigns, arranged counter-protests and accused the organization of hate. The dispute has trended on social media, generating millions of views and extensive commentary.

Supporters contend that preserving the biological definitions of mother and father protects children from being treated as state-assigned assets, referencing surrogacy disputes such as a Florida case involving a Chinese man and a Canadian same-sex couple’s lawsuit over a surrogate pregnancy. Critics argue the statements marginalize non-traditional families and ignore the realities of adoption and blended households. The debate highlights broader cultural battles over family law and reproductive technology.