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Ontario must approve same-sex marriages, judge rules
The Globe and Mail (Canada) | 7/12/02 | ALLISON DUNFIELD

Posted on 07/12/2002 8:55:25 AM PDT by jalisco555

The Ontario Supreme Court said in a landmark decision Friday that same-sex marriages between couples must be registered by the provincial government.

A three-judge panel made the ruling Friday morning in the decision, expected to have ramifications across Canada.

In January, 2001, Rev. Brent Hawkes of the Metropolitan Community Church married two gay couples in front of an audience of 600 people.

However, the city refused to register the two marriages.

Friday's court ruling as a result of a challenge by the Metropolitan Community Church was joined with another constitutional challenge by eight gay couples who have been unable to obtain marriage licences despite going through religious marriage ceremonies.

The couples asked the court to find that governments' refusal to register their marriages violates several provisions of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, including equality rights, freedom of expression, freedom of conscience and religion and security of the person, defined as psychological well-being.

Gay couples say they desire to have their marriages made official by certificates.

"We're no longer second-class citizens in this country and the time has come for change. My relationship is validated and nobody can say we're not a real family any more," said Joe Varnell, who sued the provincial government for the right to marry another man after the decision.

As soon as the decision was released, Mr. Varnell and his partner, Kevin Bourassa, shared a celebratory kiss and cried tears of joy.

Mr. Hawkes is expected to speak to the decision around noon along with a number of gay and lesbian rights groups and his lead counsel.


TOPICS: Breaking News; Canada; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events; Philosophy; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: homosexualagenda; homosexuality; marriage; samesexmarriage
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To: mitchbert
This (adoption) will likely be the deal breaker for a lot of people. I don't sense a lot of people up here have too much of an issue with marriage but dealing with the adoption issue will be very difficult.

Liberal incramentalism. Give them an inch, they'll start on the next mile. It's better to shun them now. Just say no.

61 posted on 07/12/2002 11:58:47 AM PDT by concerned about politics
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To: concerned about politics
The whole Bible counts for us

And to that I say (and I mean this) may your faith in Him guide you and your loved ones in peace, happiness and good health always. I respect your strongly held beliefs even though I somewhat diverge.

Cheers!

62 posted on 07/12/2002 12:03:17 PM PDT by mitchbert
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Comment #63 Removed by Moderator

To: Emmylou
Most of these posters are so intent on believing that gay people are evil that facts and reason don't even enter their arguments.

Thanks for the humor break! LOL!!

64 posted on 07/12/2002 12:06:21 PM PDT by FreeTally
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To: Emmylou
Thanks for your post. I clearly realize that I won't change anyone's beliefs and I have no intention of trying to do so. It's just that since I know the two guys (gays?) in question that I thought I'd try and inject a different perspective on the issue and see if we could have a somewhat lively and yet still respectful discussion here. By and large I think that's happening; I've tried to step carefully so as not to offend anyone. This is one of the things I enjoy most about FR. For the most part I find if you don't charge into a thread like a bull in a china shop and demonstrate knowledge that others will not agree with you folks will for the most part let you have your say and rebut accordingly.

Thanks again.

65 posted on 07/12/2002 12:10:30 PM PDT by mitchbert
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To: Emmylou
Most of these posters are so intent on believing that gay people are evil that facts and reason don't even enter their arguments.

Aside from religion, facts do support the arguments.
AIDs, hepatitus, intestinal infections and bile injestion are leading to the overuse of antibiotics and their loss of effectiveness. Flesh eating bacteria are thought to be mutants caused by immune dificency patients in hospitals.
AIDs continues to mutate into something else anytime science gets close to stopping it. What will it be next?
AIDs was brought to the U.S. through sodomite activity overseas.
Yeast bacteria are found in the instestines. Right now, they need the moisture to survive, but with the overuse of antibiotics , that yest will become mutated as well. It could turn into a flesh eating fungas, who knows what the sodomites will bring to us next. Why encourage it's mutation?
Teaching sodomy to children aids in the break up of the American family structure. Kids are told they "may" be gay by other sodomites using the power of suggestion to increase their minions.
The whole sodomite lifestyle leads down hill. There is nothing that leads uphill.

66 posted on 07/12/2002 12:19:48 PM PDT by concerned about politics
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Comment #67 Removed by Moderator

To: jalisco555
It is difficult to even discuss this nonsense in terms of legal principles. This sort of decision undermines respect for law, itself. What if the Court were to declare that the civil authorities must register the marriage of a man and a tree, or a man and a dog?

When an agency of Government engages in a form of madness, there is no clean cut way for others to respond. You might call this the Caligula Horse problem, after the Roman Emperor, who made his Horse a Senator. This decsions is of the same ilk.

William Flax Return Of The Gods Web Site

68 posted on 07/12/2002 1:24:57 PM PDT by Ohioan
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To: jalisco555
Ever talked to any Canadians? We have a lot of Canadian friends who are living in the US and they are SO LIBERAL!!!! Same thing I ran into in Europe, liberals everywhere!
69 posted on 07/12/2002 1:31:03 PM PDT by buffyt
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To: buffyt
Ever talked to any Canadians?

Just came back from vacationing in Canada. Listened to a lot of people tell me how enlightened their system was compared to ours. They did admit to the massive deficits, back-breaking taxes, Toronto garbage strike and the impending Liberal Party coup to unseat the Prime Minister, but, don't you see, they still have a superior system. I just smiled and nodded.

70 posted on 07/12/2002 2:06:06 PM PDT by jalisco555
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To: grlfrnd
Better them than us. Think of how many liberal gay couples may emigrate?
71 posted on 07/12/2002 2:14:32 PM PDT by stands2reason
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To: stands2reason
I'm crossing my fingers and hoping!!
72 posted on 07/12/2002 2:26:00 PM PDT by I_Love_My_Husband
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To: Fethiye
Hey bud, what's with you and gay threads today? You a butt pirate yourself?
73 posted on 07/12/2002 4:17:16 PM PDT by Conservative til I die
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To: concerned about politics
This is the part where the pro-gay crowd says "Judge not lest ye be judged" and then say that God doesn't like judgemental folks like us.
74 posted on 07/12/2002 4:17:59 PM PDT by Conservative til I die
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To: jalisco555
It's time for a revolution. Refuse to register the sodomite coupling!
75 posted on 07/12/2002 4:35:10 PM PDT by FormerLib
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To: Emmylou
Thanks to mitchburt and yourself for brave posts. I'm afraid that this kind of thread does seem to bring out the extremists. Certainly there is a legitimate case to be made against gay marriage. However, if conservatism and the GOP is going to write off all gays, all Muslims, and vitutally all members of some other minorities, as many posters here seem willing to do, we will be perpetual losers. Probably a majority here believe in tolerance, but it doesn't always seems like it.


76 posted on 07/12/2002 5:06:05 PM PDT by Steve Eisenberg
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To: jalisco555
I just smiled and nodded.

Well, just keep on smiling. The reality is beginning around 1995 US taxes began gaining on Canadian taxes and in many areas have now passed them. Obviously taxes like Federal. State/Province taxes and land taxes will vary depending on circumstance but including City Income Taxes (which Canada doesn't have) user fees ,estate and license fees generally total US taxes are higher. The garbage strike is now over and the clean up has begun. Martin and Chretien will squabble, Chretien will find a easy way out and the struggle to replace the Liberals will continue. As for debt, take a look.

www.kiama.com/BeanCounter/debt.html

77 posted on 07/12/2002 5:13:54 PM PDT by Snowyman
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To: Steve Eisenberg
I'm afraid that this kind of thread does seem to bring out the extremists

Truth be told, Steve, I was pleasantly surprised at how willing the folks that might be expected to be virulent in their opposition were to engage in a civil and enjoyable discussion with a contribution from a clearly different point of view. Reinforces my affection and respect for FR and Freepers in general.

78 posted on 07/12/2002 6:50:01 PM PDT by mitchbert
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Comment #79 Removed by Moderator

To: concerned about politics
consider the structure of marrige is equal to everyone.

Two heterosexual men or two herterosexual women are also not allowed to marry.

Any government is not obligated to recognize a churches practices any more than a government would be obligated recognize a contract for indentured servitude or a contract to sell a child.

For those who feel otherwise then draw up a legal co-habitation contract with specific term just as a co-habiting man and woman who do not want to marry but wish to adress certain issues. (access in hospitals etc.)

80 posted on 07/13/2002 6:04:01 AM PDT by Greeklawyer
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