Posted on 06/28/2005 12:06:02 PM PDT by phoenix_004
TORONTO (AP) - Canada is set to become the third country to legalize gay marriage, with Parliament likely to pass landmark legislation Tuesday despite strong opposition from Conservatives and religious leaders. Although gay marriage already is legal in seven provinces, the bill would grant all same-sex couples in Canada the same legal rights as those in traditional heterosexual unions. The Netherlands and Belgium already allow gay marriage.
The legislation, drafted by Prime Minister Paul Martin's minority government, needs at least 155 members of the House of Commons to gain a majority of the 308-seat House. While some of his Liberal lawmakers have said they will not back the legislation, enough allies in other parties have indicated they would support the bill when it comes to a vote.
There are an estimated 34,000 gay and lesbian couples in Canada, according to government statistics.
"I think this is going to be a proud and exciting day to be a Canadian because we are, once again, affirming to the world that we are a country that is open, inclusive and welcoming," said Alex Munter, national coordinator of Canadians for Equal Marriage, a group that has led the debate for the legislation.
"This is a victory for Canadian values."
Martin, a Roman Catholic, has said that despite anyone's personal beliefs, all Canadians should be granted the same rights to marriage.
"I rise in support of a Canada in which liberties are safeguarded, rights are protected and the people of this land are treated as equals under the law," Martin told the House of Commons.
Churches have expressed concern that their clergy would be compelled by law to perform same-sex ceremonies, with couples taking them to court or human rights tribunals if refused. The legislation, however, states that the bill only covers civil unions, not religious ones, and no clergy would be forced to perform same-sex ceremonies unless they choose to do so.
"The facts are plain: Religious leaders who preside over marriage ceremonies must and will be guided by what they believe," Martin said. "If they do not wish to celebrate marriages for same-sex couples, that is their right."
The Roman Catholic Church, the predominant Christian denomination in Canada, has vigorously opposed the legislation.
"The most overlooked and disenfranchised group in the current debate about marriage is that of children," Calgary Bishop Frederick Henry said in a recent statement.
"The issue is not whether traditional marriage, as it stands, is a perfect institution, but whether society and especially children are better off with it than without. Families with both mothers and fathers are generally better for children than those with only mothers or only fathers. Biological parents usually protect and provide for their children more effectively than non-biological ones."
The debate in Canada began in December, when the Supreme Court ruled that passage of same-sex legislation would not violate the constitution.
A roster of right-wing groups under the banner Defend Marriage Canada headed to Parliament Hill on Tuesday to lobby legislators against the bill.
"I fear radical social change thrust upon a nation that is not asking for it," Charles McVety, a spokesman for Defend Marriage Canada and president of Canada Christian College, told Canadian Press.
According to most polls, a majority of Canadians supports the right for gays and lesbians to marry. In the United States, gay marriage is opposed by a majority of Americans, according to an Associated Press-Ipsos poll taken in November, shortly after constitutional amendments in 11 states to ban same-sex marriage were approved.
Massachusetts is the only state that allows gay marriages, although Vermont and Connecticut have approved same-sex civil unions.
Notice how they conveniently overlook the US, where gay marriage is allowed in MA. It's like we don't even exist anymore. Only the rest of the world is relevant.
(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)
MY problem with this article is that I figured Canada had legalized it long ago. It seems beside the point in any case, Canada is perceived as that kinda place, anyway.
Wow! This is news to me. Have homosexuals in Canada been denied the right to marriage? Im missing something here.
As far as I know, everyone has the right to get married and have always had that right.
However, when it comes time to vote, he consistently votes liberal because the conservative candidates turn him off or he knows the liberal personally so wants to vote for them.
Canadians have to work themselves out of their mess but I don't know if they have what it takes.
Agreed. Personally, though, I don't think we should have Canadian values in the US.
Um, so you're upset that the US wasn't mentioned in this article?
I wish we could overlook MA permanently.
No, my point is just that the liberal media doesn't acknowledge anything that happens in the US unless it fits in with their ideological bias.
It would help of the Canadian Conservatives didn't have perpetual foot-in-mouth disease, such as Stephen Harper proclaiming that this same-sex marriage vote won't be legitimate because of its support by the Bloc Quebecois.
But he's right. If you take away the Bloq votes, SSM would have been defeated.
Why not? It already recognizes civil unions between Canadians and farm animals...
later pingout.
That'll last about as long as it takes for a couple of poofters to have their "marriage" demand refused by some Canadian priest, and then file a lawsuit.
I know he's write, but he's antagonizing Quebec voters in suggesting that their votes shouldn't matter! Maybe their votes shouldn't matter, but if you're the leader of a party you don't say things that can be misconstrued that way. It's the same thing Howard Dean does with his insane rhetoric.
write = right
But when did Massachusetts become a country?
Not that I'm disputing your basic point, but it doesn't really apply in this case. The point of the article isn't that states/provinces allow gay marriage (in the article, it says that all provinces allow it), the point is that Canada *as a nation* is about to recognize it. So MA isn't relevant.
Sorry, quick correction - *seven* provinces allow it.
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