Quebec Throuple Seeks Legal Recognition as Parents
In Quebec, Canada, a same-sex “throuple” has ignited a national debate after adopting a three-year-old girl. They are now pushing for legal recognition as her parents—a challenge to existing Quebec laws that restrict legal parental status to two individuals.
The trio—Eric LeBlanc, Jonathan Bédard, and Justin Maheu—shared with the media that they are in a committed three-way relationship. They began fostering the child when she was just one year old and completed the adoption earlier this year after a lengthy process.
As it stands, Quebec law dictates that a child can have only two legal parents. This means only two of the men are listed as parents on the official paperwork, leaving the third without any legal parental rights.
“We’ve loved and raised our daughter together since she was a baby,” LeBlanc said in an interview. “All three of us are her parents—emotionally, practically, and in every sense that matters. We just want the law to recognize what already exists.”
The couple referenced a Quebec Superior Court ruling from April that deemed parts of the civil code unconstitutional for limiting legal parenthood to two people, arguing that it may discriminate against families outside traditional norms. This decision followed a case linked to a “polyamorous family,” asserting that restricting legal parenthood violates the rights of diverse family structures.
Despite this progress, the Quebec government has appealed the ruling, suggesting that changes to the civil code should await a more comprehensive public and legislative review. Until then, families like LeBlanc, Bédard, and Maheu remain in a state of legal uncertainty.
Family law scholar Dr. Marie-Claire Fortin commented, “Quebec is one of the most conservative provinces in terms of family law, so if reform happens here, it will send ripples across the country.”
As the case unfolds in court, the three men continue to raise their daughter together. If their legal challenge is successful, Quebec could set a precedent as the first province in Canada to officially recognize multiparent adoptions.
