Father Loses Appeal Dubbed ‘Roe v. Wade for Men’
A Michigan father who contended he should have the right to decide whether to pay child support has lost his appeal.
Men’s rights groups had dubbed the lawsuit a ”Roe v. Wade for men,” drawing objections from women’s rights groups, the Associated Press reports.
Matthew Dubay said his ex-girlfriend had assured him she could not get pregnant, then sued him for child support after his child was born. He argued his ex-girlfriend had the right to choose abortion, so he had the right to choose whether to bear financial responsibility for an unwanted child.
He contended Michigan’s paternity law violated his right to equal protection because it didn’t give men reproductive rights.
The Cincinnati-based 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said in a ruling yesterday (PDF) that the claims by Dubay were without merit. Michigan laws also require mothers to provide adequate support for their children and are gender neutral, the court said.
