Canada legalises gay marriages

**Gawain of Orkeny** · 07-21-2005, 01:32

Canada legalises gay marriages

21.07.05 10.50am

OTTAWA - Canada formally became the fourth country in the world to legalise gay marriages today after the country's Senate overwhelmingly approved the legislation.

Belgium, the Netherlands and Spain already permit same-sex marriages, and a number of Canadian provinces have been allowing such legal unions for some time.

The Senate upper chamber - dominated by members from the governing Liberal party - voted 47-21 to pass the law.

The House of Commons had already approved the legislation despite fierce opposition from conservative politicians and from religious groups who portrayed it as an attack on organised religion.

The law came into power today when a Supreme Court judge approved it. That job would normally be done by Governor General Adrienne Clarkson, who represents Queen Elizabeth, Canada's head of state. But Clarkson is recovering after having had a pacemaker fitted earlier this month.

The Liberal government said it had to draw up the legislation to allow same-sex marriages across the country after courts in eight of the 10 provinces ruled that a heterosexual-only definition of marriage was unconstitutional.

Opponents fear churches and religious officials could be sued for refusing to carry out same sex marriages.

However, while the legislation grants gays and lesbians the right to full civil marriages, it makes clear that religious officials would not be obliged to marry same-sex couples.

Some provinces have already become something of a tourist destination for gay couples from other countries who are seeking to get married.

Canadian residency requirements are less strict than those in other countries that allow gay marriage, but the new unions may not be recognised in the couples' home countries.

- REUTERS

I cant believe no one else posted this. My condolences

**Evil_Maniac From Mars** · 07-21-2005, 01:38

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Ok, my dual citizenship will now become singular citizenship. Germany is too Catholic to allow this in the near future.

**Gawain of Orkeny** · 07-21-2005, 01:40

Ok, my dual citizenship will now become singular citizenship. Germany is too Catholic to allow this in the near future.

Is Germany more catholic than Spain? I doubt it.

**Evil_Maniac From Mars** · 07-21-2005, 01:42

The ruling party is primarily Catholic though, it is the German Christian party. I can't believe Canada allowed this. Pah.

**King of Atlantis** · 07-21-2005, 01:50

This might be good for the U.S. Some of our population might move up north.

**Gawain of Orkeny** · 07-21-2005, 01:55

This might be good for the U.S. Some of our population might move up north.

Funny I was thinking the same thing. Not only that but chances are they would be mostly liberals.

**JAG** · 07-21-2005, 04:40

Originally Posted by evil_maniac from mars

The ruling party is primarily Catholic though, it is the German Christian party. I can't believe Canada allowed this. Pah.

You are wrong.... The government in Germany is made up of a coalition between the SDP - social democrats, lefties etc - and the Green party - more to the left of the SDP. There might also be some other small parties I am missing out, but they are the two main parts of the government.

The Christian democrats are the opposition and they are odds on to win the election to be held fairly shortly, but don't count the SDP out yet.

As for Germany allowing gay marriage, I reckon it isn't that far off, over here in the UK we already have gay marriage in all but name and the vast, vast, vast majority of people supports it, it is the next logical step to simply legalise gay marriage. When it is legalised in Spain, as it will be shortly and here in the next few years.. Other countries won't be far behind.

About bloody time.

Back onto the thread... Good news, it always amazes me how well Canada ignores all the backward thinking coming from a majority of the people on the other side of their border. Well played Canada.