B.C. MLA Spencer Chandra Herbert is a proud new papa.
He and husband, Romi, welcomed a baby boy as Family Day in B.C. gave way to Valentine's Day at 12:24 a.m. in Vancouver.
Their surrogate — and close friend — Amanda van Barrsen gave birth to Dev Juno Chandra Herbert on Tuesday.
Dev's name comes from "divine," the NDP MLA for Vancouver-West End told the Vancouver Sun. The middle name Juno reflects the Greek goddess who protects women, and honours the mothers of both the baby and the dads.
Spencer and Romi got married in 2010 after being together for 10 years, and use a hybrid of both their last names.
In the past, they have shared their frustrating two-year journey to try to adopt a child in B.C. An opportunity arose in 2014 to foster a baby who was abandoned by its birth parents, but the child's relatives rejected the Chandra Herberts because they were a same-sex couple.
The MLA questioned why — when a stable family is willing to provide and love a child — sexual orientation is allowed to be part of the adoption process in B.C.
"We send our love to the baby, and hope it finds the family it deserves," he said at the time.
Spencer Chandra Herbert has been an MLA since 2008, while Romi Chandra Herbert is a community youth worker and has led the Vancouver Pride Parade as the grand marshal twice.
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