Tuesday, June 28, 2005

An Act Representing Certain Aspects of Legal Capacity for Marriage for Civil Purposes has passed

Yeas 158
Nays 133

A historic day. Canada has become only the third country in the world to legally recognize Same Sex Marriage. This is a day in which Canadians, all Canadians, should be proud. We bravely and painfully fought for the extension of equality to all our citizens. We did it through (mostly) respectful democratic debate. Some people should great courage and principles in both directions, and I salute all of them (though I have questioned some of their tactics).

From here what happens?

Well, unless you are gay and want to get married, nothing. Its done. After passing the Senate and achieving Royal Accent, life will continue in Canada as it always has. In 6 months, we will wonder what the big deal was.

I have never felt more proud to be a Canadian. Once again we have shown the world we believe in freedom, equality and human rights.

And for those who are religious and worried, please read this from Pastor Kevin Powell and don't worry, religious marriage is the same today as it always has been. Religious marriage will not change until you want it to, as it has in the United Church of Canada.

And congrats to Rick Barnes and all those who fought for this moment.

12 Comments:

At 9:31 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

In 6 months, we will wonder what the big deal was.

I couldn't agree more. Sort of like how there is no great hew and cry to bring back the death penalty, and nary a peep has been heard about this once super-charged issue that got resolved with a free vote in the House.

 
At 10:21 PM, Blogger ricky said...

Thank you Mike. Today was an emotional day. Stephanie and I raised a glass to her Dad.

I am a small pin in the wheel, I feel so proud to be Canadian, just as i did when we said no to George Bush and his war.

Being a canadian today reaffirms my feelings for our nation and its people.

Thank you again for your words. tears come too easy, historic seems so small a word to measure the feelings.

 
At 10:36 PM, Blogger Mike said...

Anytime Rick, anytime.

 
At 12:03 AM, Blogger AJSomerset said...

Two years after Ontario's courts paved the way for this decision, we're already wondering what the big deal was.

Two years from now, nobody will care, with the exception of a small and embittered minority. Those people, unfortunately, will never go away.

 
At 12:49 AM, Blogger daveberta said...

skippy: unfortately, they're all over here in Alberta :P

 
At 7:13 PM, Blogger Unknown said...

Indeed. A cause for celebration. The heavy hand of government has stopped interfering with peoples' lives ;)

 
At 8:42 PM, Blogger Mike said...

Why Kevin, a Pastor AND a libertarian? You are a complex man...

:)

 
At 11:17 PM, Blogger Politicagrll said...

17 million against same sex marriage? Where did you pick that number from, and for that matter what age group?

That's about 2/3 of Canadians. I don't think i ever came across a poll that was that high against same sex marriage with the exception of folks over 50, and they aren't 2/3 of Canadians.

Also polls don't count under 18's and overall younger Canadians have strongly supported same-sex marriages in the polls.

Like others i'm proud of this day. And like others i'd point out that you could get a same sex marriage in Ontario for quite a while now and the sky hasn't fallen yet.

 
At 7:50 AM, Blogger Mike said...

DazzlinDino,

Take it up with Ralph Klein, that's provincial jusrisdiction. Even under King Ralph's current musings - that the province get out of marriages and only do civil unions - this guy would still have to perform same sex civil unions.

Do Catholic judges refuse to do divorce cases? Nope.

Sorry if this guy loses his job, but this sounds like an engineered crisis. Whomever is doing the firing should be looked at. Want to know the irony of ironies? The JP's union might have a thing or two to say about this too...

 
At 8:11 AM, Blogger Mike said...

PS Dino, care to provide a link...I can't find this anywhere to get the details....

 
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