Three Parents, One Child: 'Three Times the Love'

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A Unique Family Dynamic and the Fight for Legal Recognition

Jonathan Bedard, Éric LeBlanc, and Justin Maheu have been together for years and are now raising a 3-year-old girl after serving as her foster parents. Their journey has taken seven years, but they are not done yet. The three men, who live together in Montreal as a romantic triad, hope to see changes in the law that would allow more than two people to be legally recognized as a child’s parents. They believe their story can help shift perspectives on what it means to be a family.

Under current Quebec law, only two of them can be legally recognized as the girl’s parents. This limitation has created challenges for the trio, especially for LeBlanc, who is not officially recognized as a parent. Despite this, they say their relationship and parenting approach have always been centered around their daughter’s well-being.

“We’re not objective, but she’s a dream, really,” LeBlanc says. “We can’t wait to see how she’s going to grow.”

Their story has gained attention in Canada, highlighting the unique legal challenges faced by families with more than two parents. While other provinces like British Columbia and Ontario recognize multiple parental figures, Quebec still limits the number to two. The trio hopes to change this through advocacy and legal action.

In April, a judge ruled that Quebec’s civil code is unconstitutional, giving the local government a year to update its laws. However, the decision has been appealed by Quebec’s Ministry of Justice. The three men remain hopeful that the law will eventually change, allowing LeBlanc to be recognized as their daughter’s third parent.

The process of adopting their daughter was not without obstacles. In April 2022, an agency under Quebec’s Directorate of Youth Protection initially rejected their application because they wanted to parent as a throuple. After filing a legal complaint, the decision was reversed, and they were directed to another agency for a psychosocial evaluation. This evaluation, which focused on their ability to provide a safe and supportive environment, ultimately approved their adoption.

Since then, the trio has been fostering their daughter, and their adoption became official in September. They say the experience has been challenging but rewarding.

A Relationship Built on Equality and Communication

Bedard, Maheu, and LeBlanc first met in college over 20 years ago. Maheu and Bedard were already in a relationship when LeBlanc entered their lives in 2018. The three men describe their relationship as a triad or throuple, where all members are equally involved. They emphasize that their relationship is based on open communication, trust, and mutual respect.

“We rapidly established that the relationship would be equal,” they say. “Everybody was on the same level.”

Despite the initial long-distance aspect of their relationship, they made time for each other and worked to build a strong foundation. They also acknowledge that their relationship is not easy for everyone to understand. However, they believe that as society becomes more accepting of diverse relationships, new models like theirs can gain more support.

The Impact of Their Story

Since going public with their story, the trio has received both support and criticism. Some people have expressed disapproval, while others have shared hateful or homophobic messages. However, they remain focused on their goal: providing their daughter with a loving and stable environment.

Maheu explains that their daughter does not see a difference between the three of them. “She has three fathers to care for and support her,” he says. “It’s not so different from children in blended families.”

They also argue that having three parents offers more financial and emotional support. “There’s three times the love, three times the income, three times everything,” LeBlanc says.

While they prefer the term “triad” over “throuple,” they accept the latter and believe their family model benefits their daughter. “It’s a story made out of love,” LeBlanc adds. “And as any other family who has a child, we put the child forward.”

Looking Ahead

As they continue to advocate for legal recognition, the trio remains committed to their daughter’s well-being. They believe that every child deserves to have their family structure respected and protected.

“We have a lot of love to give,” Maheu says. “And we’ll always make sure that she has everything she needs.”