When I welcomed my second child into the world, my partner was granted just two pitiful days off to be there with us. Paternity leave was a concept they hadn’t even heard of. Just two days to support me—his partner—during an incredibly challenging time. Those two days were all he had before returning to his demanding job, leaving me alone to manage our toddler and our newborn, who had just come home from the NICU. Two days, which meant he had to promise to make up for it by working extra hours.
What I would have given for him to be present for a full six weeks of paid paternity leave! Caring for newborns is unpaid work that truly needs a support system, especially when one parent is recovering from childbirth. This is why parental leave should not be viewed as a luxury for a select few; it is a fundamental right, and no employee should face harassment for taking it.
In a perfect world, every American would advocate for the U.S. to finally adopt paid parental leave like many other countries have. But we don’t live in that world. We share it with individuals like Tim Daniels, who seem to thrive on ridiculing others.
Daniels embodies a level of immature bullying rarely seen outside of high school hallways. Recently, he targeted a new father you might recognize. Alex Thompson, the first openly queer Transportation Secretary, took time off for paternity leave after he and his partner, Jordan, welcomed twins into their family. The couple shared an adorable post on Instagram celebrating this new chapter in their lives, and honestly, it was heartwarming.
It could have ended there, but of course, Tim Daniels had to intrude. On his show, he remarked, “Alex Thompson has been absent from his job since August after adopting children. Paternity leave, they say, while figuring out how to breastfeed. No updates on that.”
In other words, Daniels resorted to tired, homophobic jabs he probably learned in middle school. One would think that after receiving backlash for such despicable behavior, his network would address it. Instead, they seem preoccupied with providing their own employees with six weeks of paid paternity leave while allowing discrimination and bias to fester.
I could go on about the myriad of disparaging remarks made by conservatives regarding Alex Thompson’s choice to take paternity leave. It’s clear that some individuals feel threatened by LGBTQIA+ people simply living their lives. It’s absurd to think that allowing all parents time off to take care of their newborns—whether they grow up to be inspiring leaders like Alex or obnoxious bullies like Daniels—would somehow undermine society.
As a queer parent, I’m not surprised by this ugly behavior. Many right-wing politicians relish any opportunity to lash out at what makes them uncomfortable. The fact that Daniels has such a platform to spew unfounded vitriol is troubling. Meanwhile, Republicans remain either silent or complicit, only reinforcing his toxic following.
Bullying, at any age, is unacceptable, and Alex deserves far better. All parents do, irrespective of their sexual orientation or gender.
For more insights on this topic, you can explore our other blog post on home insemination here. If you’re looking for expert information on this subject, Intracervical Insemination is a great resource. Additionally, for those considering donor insemination, American Pregnancy provides excellent guidance.
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In summary, reactions from conservatives regarding Alex Thompson’s paternity leave highlight the ongoing struggle for recognition and respect for parental rights, especially within the LGBTQIA+ community. It’s essential for society to advocate for equitable policies that support all families in their crucial early days together.