The Ohio Statehouse is seen in Columbus, Ohio, on Monday, April 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

EDITOR’S NOTE (5/28): This article has been updated to include comment from state Rep. Josh Williams.

Ohio state Reps. Beth Lear (R-Galena) and Josh Williams (R-Sylvania Township) have introduced House Bill 262, legislation to implement “Natural Family Month” in the state, drawing criticism for excluding single parents and LGBTQ+ families.

According to the bill’s text, the weeks from Mother’s Day (second Sunday of May) through Father’s Day (third Sunday of June) would be designated as “Natural Family Month.”

The idea of a “natural family” may have emerged from the Natural Family Foundation (NFF), an anti-same-sex marriage advocacy group that reportedly supports HB 262. According to the organization’s website, the NFF promotes the idea of a “clear male leader” within a family that comes from the family’s lineage, and that same-sex marriage goes against the institution of marriage.

In a press release, Lear argued the bill promotes marriage and families as “the cornerstone of society.”

“At a time when marriage is trending downward and young couples are often choosing to remain childless, it’s important for the State of Ohio to make a statement that marriage and families are the cornerstone of civil society, and absolutely imperative if we want to maintain a healthy and stable Republic,” Lear said.

Williams responded to an inquiry on May 20 saying the intent of the bill is to uplift strong families for the sake of the nation’s future, not to exclude.

“The term ‘natural family’ is not defined in the bill language, but it refers to families consisting of a man, woman, and their children,” Williams said. “It is important to pass legislation like this because as America faces declining birth rates and a shrinking population, we can no longer afford to ignore the foundational role that strong families play in sustaining our future.”

“HB 262 is about more than policy; it’s about promoting the economic and social stability that comes from raising children in healthy, two-parent households. We must use every tool at our disposal to support the families that are building the next generation of Americans.”

Williams also told NBC News via an email response that the bill is not intended to discriminate but rather uplift families that can give birth.

“The purpose of the month is to promote natural families—meaning a man, a woman, and their children—as a way to encourage higher birth rates.,” Williams said. “This is not about discriminating against other family structures, but about supporting the one most directly tied to the creation and raising of children.”

Lear did not immediately respond to requests to comment for this story.