Nationwide gay marriage in Canada

[lagomorph]

From New York Times:

 

 

TORONTO, June 28 - The House of Commons voted Tuesday night to extend marriage rights to gay and lesbian couples throughout Canada despite strong opposition from the Conservatives and a splintering of the governing Liberal Party caucus.

 

The vote sealed two years of provincial court decisions that gave same-sex couples the right to marry in 8 of 10 provinces and one of the three northern territories. When the Senate approves the measure, considered a formality, Canada will become the third national government, after the Netherlands and Belgium, to enact such rights.

 

Though the vote was largely symbolic, advocates for gay rights hailed it as a milestone because it was the first time a Canadian legislative body had voted to change the traditional definition of marriage beyond a union of a man and a woman.

 

"It's about the right to love," R

[Mark Arbour]

Man, I wish the US was as enlightened as Canada.

[woody]

same with australia... lol, where gay marriage cant be allowed for it would "threaten the servival of australia" and prevent us from preforming our national duty which is to have childern.... well at least ocording to Jhon Howard (the primeminister) and Peter Costello (the tresurer) anyway.... lol, i remember my mum being so pissed when they said that

[NaperVic]

Man, I wish the US was as enlightened as Canada.

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Pot, health care, and gay marriage. Conner, I'm envious

 

Vic

[sumbloke]

Man, I wish the US was as enlightened as Canada.

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Pot, health care, and gay marriage. Conner, I'm envious

 

Vic

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<PARODY>

Pot?

Healthcare?

Gay marriage?

 

It's godless communism I tell you! It's time we saw regime change in the Socialist Republic of Canadastan.

*sound of blood vessel in head bursting*

</PARODY>

[Masked Monkey]

... health care ...

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Much like any other country, the Canadian healthcare system is no panacea for the sick or the healthy.

 

:king: Snow Dog

[Conner]

Yes, I am very proud to be Canadian. Especially today. :2hands:

 

I must extend my kudos to Paul Martin, Canada's Prime Minister. To introduce this legislation and see it through to passage with a minority government took a lot of balls. Thank you, Mr. Martin.

 

Minority governments generally have a short shelf life. The present government is only a year old. There will likely be another federal election in 2006. However, I doubt that this bill will be an election issue at that time. Paul Martin and his Liberal party remain in deep doo-doo on other issues - particulary with the Gomery Commission which is looking into how the Liberals systematically stole millions of Canadian tax dollars over a period of years. All that we owe to Jean Chretien, Canada's former Prime Minister and Liberal party leader. Martin could well take the wrap.

 

So the Liberals may well fall in the next election and it wouldn't be undeserved by any means. But this issue is now decided. Canadians rarely like to re-decide anything. Besides, a year from now, when even those Canadians who opposed this bill see that the country has not gone to hell in a hand basket (what's a hand basket, anyway?), Canadians will simply shrug our shoulders and say, "Well that wasn't so bad," and move on.

 

I love my country and the people in it.

 

Hugs,

Conner

[Masked Monkey]

(what's a hand basket, anyway?)

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See the site:

hell in a handbasket

:king: Snow Dog

 

P.S. As a 1st generation American, I am also proud of my Canadian heritage

[Conner]

Much like any other country, the Canadian healthcare system is no panacea for the sick or the healthy.

 

:king: Snow Dog

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I agree that Canada's heathcare system has many flaws. Being publically funded, it is not always operated efficiently - even this is typical Canadian understatement. Elective surgery can take months. Yes, people die waiting.

 

But I wouldn't change it. It's so....Canadian, eh? It's the attitude we have towards healthcare that I cherish. Access to good healthcare is more and more being seen as a basic human right that all are entitled to.

 

Hugs,

Conner

[Tim1001]

Canada

and to add to Vic's list...MOUNTYS (yummy)

 

maybe someday soon we'll see this kinda change here in america?

 

 

 

those damn letters (Y and T) are too close together

Edited June 29, 2005 by Tim1001

[Davey]

Maybe the UK should also listen to Canada's example. Whilst the goverment here are pushing through laws which give British Gay couples the same rights as married couples it's still not marriage. I would like to marry in my own country but I just can't see that happen anytime soon. When Chris and I do marry and I mean marry im not talking a commitment ceromony here, Im walking down the aisle, I think we will have to travel to another country. Its a sad fact to know that you cannot be accepted in your own nation just because you are different.

I agree that Canada's heathcare system has many flaws. Being publically funded, it is not always operated efficiently - even this is typical Canadian understatement. Elective surgery can take months. Yes, people die waiting.

 

The same applys in the UK The good old NHS (national health service) has its many flaws like long waits for surgery. etc. But I wouldn't want it changed its good to know that no matter who you are and how much money you have you are entitled to the same quality of health care. That is after all why we pay our Taxes! Well at least the Tony Blair can get something semi right

[Mark Arbour]

Man, I wish the US was as enlightened as Canada.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Pot, health care, and gay marriage. Conner, I'm envious

 

Vic

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It sounds like Nirvana, except American guys are hotter (ducks as snowballs and hockey pucks fly at his head)

[vision]

Seems Spain has beat Canada to it. I only wish Australia would get it's head out of the sand and join the countries that offer same-sex marriage, as well as other rights *sigh* considering the UK will have civil unions soon, I find it disgusting that, Australia, as a commonwealth country, hasn't even had civil unions considered by the government to be pathetic (lets not even mention the marriage situation). I think the former opposition leader Mark Latham put it best when he called Prime Minister John Howard an arse licker.

 

 

 

(Madrid) Parliament legalized gay marriage Thursday, defying conservatives and clergy who opposed making traditionally Roman Catholic Spain the third country in the world to officially recognize same-sex unions.

 

The measure passed the 350-seat Congress of Deputies by a vote of 187-147 with four abstentions. The bill, part of the ruling Socialists' aggressive agenda for social reform, also lets gay couples adopt children and inherit each others' property.

 

The bill is now law. The Senate, where conservatives hold the largest number of seats, rejected the bill last week, but the Senate is an advisory body and final say on legislation rested with the Congress of Deputies.

 

Gay couples will be allowed to marry as soon as the law is published in the official government registry, the Boletin Oficial del Estado. This could come as early as Friday or within two weeks at the latest, the parliament's press office said.

 

After the final tally was announced, activists watching from the spectator section of the ornate chamber cried, cheered, hugged, waved to lawmakers and blew them kisses.

 

Several members of the conservative opposition Popular Party, which vehemently opposed the bill, shouted: "This is a disgrace." Those in favor stood and clapped.

 

The Netherlands and Belgium are the only other two countries that recognize gay marriage nationwide. Canada's House of Commons passed legislation Tuesday that would legalize gay marriage by the end of July as long as the Senate also passes the bill, which it is expected to do.

 

"We were not the first, but I am sure we will not be the last. After us will come many other countries, driven, ladies and gentlemen, by two unstoppable forces: freedom and equality," Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero told the chamber before the vote.

 

Zapatero said the reform of Spain's legal code simply adds one dry paragraph of legalese - but means much, much more.

 

He called it "a small change in wording that means an immense change in the lives of thousands of citizens. We are not legislating, ladies and gentlemen, for remote unknown people. We are expanding opportunities for the happiness of our neighbors, our work colleagues, our friends, our relatives."

 

Zapatero lacks a majority in the chamber but got help from small regional- based parties that tend to be his allies.

 

Popular Party leader Mariano Rajoy said after the vote that Zapatero has deeply divided Spain and should have sought a consensus in parliament that recognized same-sex unions but didn't call them marriages. Rajoy said that if the vast majority of countries in the world don't accept gay marriage, including some run by Socialists, there must be a reason.

 

"I think the prime minister has committed a grave act of irresponsibility," Rajoy told reporters.

 

The gay marriage bill was the boldest and most divisive initiative of the liberal social agenda Zapatero has embarked on since taking office in April 2004.

 

Parliament overhauled Spain's 25-year-old divorce law on Wednesday, also irking Spain's Roman Catholic Church, by letting couples end their marriage without a mandatory separation or having to state a reason for the split-up as required under the old law.

 

He has also pushed through legislation allowing stem-cell research and wants to loosen Spain's restrictive abortion law.

 

The Roman Catholic Church, which held much sway over the government just a generation ago when Gen. Francisco Franco was in power, had adamantly opposed gay marriage. In its first display of anti-government activism in 20 years, it endorsed a June 18 rally in which hundreds of thousands marched through Madrid in opposition to the bill. Some 20 bishops took part in the June 18 rally.

 

On Wednesday, a Catholic lay group called the Spanish Family Forum presented lawmakers with a petition bearing 600,000 signatures as a last-minute protest.

 

Late last year, a spokesman for the Spanish Bishops Conference, Antonio Martinez Camino, said that allowing gay marriage was like "imposing a virus on society - something false that will have negative consequences for social life."

 

However, polls suggest Spaniards supported gay marriage. A survey released in May by pollster Instituto Opina said 62% of Spaniards support the government's action on gay marriage, and 30% oppose it. The poll had a margin of error of 3 percentage points.

 

But surveys show Spaniards about evenly split over whether gay couples should be allowed to adopt children.

 

Earlier this week Canada's House of Commons approved a gay marriage bill (story). The legislation needs approval of the Senate - likely to come before the end of July - to make Canada the fourth country to legalize same-sex marriage.

 

 

[Conner]

Man, I wish the US was as enlightened as Canada.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Pot, health care, and gay marriage. Conner, I'm envious

 

Vic

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It sounds like Nirvana, except American guys are hotter (ducks as snowballs and hockey pucks fly at his head)

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There's a lot more heading your way than snowballs and hockey pucks, I'll tell ya. The Mounties have been alerted and they always get their man. Hmmm maybe I'd be doing you a favour.

 

We have our fair share of hotties. It's just that we have to cover up more to avoid FES (Frozen Extremities Syndrome). It definitely can be here.

 

The answer for you is simple though. Emmigrate to Canada and start an importing business.

 

Hugs,

Conner

[Masked Monkey]

The answer for you is simple though.  Emmigrate to Canada and start an importing business. 

 

Hugs,

Conner

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Importing heat can be VERY expensive

 

:king: Snow Dog

[Davey]

Has anyone been to Lake Louise in Canada? Chris was talking about it today saying he was there years ago and thinks its lovley. He wants to marry there. Ive looked at pics of thereon the net and I must say it is nice. I'll have to see first hand before i agree

[Masked Monkey]

Has anyone been to Lake Louise in Canada? Chris was talking about it today saying he was there years ago and thinks its lovley. He wants to marry there. Ive looked at pics of thereon the net and I must say it is nice. I'll have to see first hand before i agree

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I don't think you could find a more beautiful area in western Canada

 

:king: Snow Dog

[Conner]

Has anyone been to Lake Louise in Canada? Chris was talking about it today saying he was there years ago and thinks its lovley. He wants to marry there. Ive looked at pics of thereon the net and I must say it is nice. I'll have to see first hand before i agree

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As any Irishman would say, "It's just grand!" The water is just so blue-green, almost emerald, it's breathtaking! It's located within Bnaff National Park (the heart of the Canadian Rockies) so the development in the area is quite minimal - it's pristine as any place could be that gets 5 million visitors a year. Now I obviously have a bias, being Canadian, but it just doesn't get any better than Lake Louise. I've been there and to Jasper National Park as well (just a 3 hour drive north) three times.

 

Lake Louise is in the province of Alberta which is right next door to British Columbia - where I live. Calgary would be the city you would want to fly into.

 

My suggestion would be to fly into Vancouver, BC and spend a few days and then rent a car and drive to Lake Louise - about 10 hours. Vancouver is an incredibly beautiful city and the most gay-friendly city in Canada. Calgary is a bit red-neck, still lots of cowboys.

 

Let me know if I can help in any way. Btw, we drive on the right side of the road but you've likely done that as I believe most of mainland Europe does as well.

 

Hugs,

Conner

[Conner]

Rosie O"Donnell and her spouse and family arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia yesterday with a whole ship load of same sex couples coming up to get married.

 

See background story:

 

http://www.365gay.com/travel/travelnews/050105travelNews.htm

 

It seems that being decent to people will have benefits for Canada's tourist industry.

 

This story actually made the CTV national news last night at 11:00 PM. I love being Canadian.

 

Hugs,

Conner