Straight Dad Seeks Same Benefit Given to Gays

Canada's Alexander Angus didn't receive parental-leave benefits
By Neal Colgrass,  Newser Staff
Posted May 9, 2014 4:03 PM CDT
Straight Dad Seeks Same Benefit Given to Gays
   (Shutterstock)

A Canadian man has filed a human rights complaint because he, as a heterosexual dad, couldn't receive parental-leave benefits available to mothers and same-sex parents, the National Post reports. Alexander Angus, who works for the city of Victoria, BC, wasn't eligible for leave benefits "because of a) my gender, and b) my sexual orientation," he wrote the city in 2010. "Because I am male, I do not qualify for these benefits, although if I were to marry another male I would? If this is correct it seems to be a blatant show of inequality." The HR director wrote back that she didn't "believe there is an inequity as a male cannot give birth."

So Angus only took three weeks' vacation, and never applied for leave benefits, although he planned to be his child's primary caregiver, Metro News reports. Recently the city and the union sought to have his complaint dismissed, reports the Province, because their new collective agreement does include leave benefits for all parents, "natural, adoptive, or same-sex." But a human-rights tribunal recommended mediation because Angus didn't receive benefits at the time: "Mr. Angus himself has received no remedy," wrote a tribunal member in the decision. (Click to read about a Florida man who tried to apply same-sex rights toward his effort to marry a laptop.)

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