Equal Marriage on the way

Posted on February 2, 2005
Filed Under Politics |

Yesterday the Minister of Justice, Irwin Cotler tabled the bill that will provide all people of this country the equal right to marriage. Read more about Bill 38 - Civil Marriage Act.

This Bill is merely a formality (same-sex marriage is already legal in 8 provinces and 1 territory, or 80% of the population) that continues Canada’s Human Rights leadership in respecting the minority rights of its people. There has been much debate about the contentious issue among the population. There are many in the population that oppose this bill for their own individual reasons, be it “religious”, ignorance, or homophobia.

Unfortunately the people that feel this way do not realise the same Charter that protects their Rights also protects the Rights of all miniorities, in this case same-sex couples. It is not a philosophical issue, it is a legal one.
Some politicians want to stop passage of this Bill because they believe that the majority of Canadians oppose same-sex marriage. In this case, the people do NOT know best. Some of the arguments in opposition echo those that opposed women’s right to vote, inter-racial marriages, performing sexual acts with an individual of the same gender being illegal… In these cases the majority of the population opposed the human rights that were being violated and resulted in changing the Law. Was this majority view right? Many at the time would say yes… how many do you think believe the same today, generation(s) later?

It may surprise you to know that 55% of practising Catholics support same-sex marriage. The Muslim Canadian Congress has proclaimed its support for same-sex marriage. These traditionally “conservative” (read: resitant to change) religious groups are open to same-sex rights, because they support equal human rights. It should be noted at this point, the legislation upholds religious freedoms rights and does not force religious marriage of same-sex couples, it only legislates the legality of civil marriages. This is because religious marriage is merely symbolic, it is the civil part - the legal document - that matters.

I applaud our government for taking this legal battle head on. Hopefully it will pass into Law quickly, so they can move on with running our country, one that respects human rights.

More info about same-sex marriage around the world here.

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