Thursday, June 30, 2005
In Case You Didn't Hear the News...
For those of you who don't follow Canadian news/politics... earlier this week, the Canadian Government finally passed Bill C-38 - the new law to enact equality for same sex marriage in Canada. Why did we do this?
In Canada, we have the Charter of Rights and Freedoms which provides many protections in all areas of law, including human rights, equality and even criminal law. It is against the law to discriminate based on any of the enumerated grounds, such as race, language, age, gender, as well as analagous grounds such as sexual orientation.
The Charter was passed in 1982, and it has taken over twenty years to sort out, through changing legislation and the Supreme Court of Canada. Many cases have been decided by the Supreme Court over the years which have led to this new law.
Same sex couples have had the right to marry for a couple of years in different parts of Canada. In Canada, we think everyone should have the same rights across the country, so it was important to get this legislation worked out. This legislation will permit any churches who are not comfortable marrying same sex couples to choose not to offer it.
What kills me though is that most of the news coverage shows gay guys kissing and hugging. I don't mind that, but I wish they would show some of the women (aka lesbians) as well, and the other people affected... including the many children of same sex couples and the grandparents and other family members involved. The news always seems to want to focus on the most controversial aspects of any given story.
In Canada, we have the Charter of Rights and Freedoms which provides many protections in all areas of law, including human rights, equality and even criminal law. It is against the law to discriminate based on any of the enumerated grounds, such as race, language, age, gender, as well as analagous grounds such as sexual orientation.
The Charter was passed in 1982, and it has taken over twenty years to sort out, through changing legislation and the Supreme Court of Canada. Many cases have been decided by the Supreme Court over the years which have led to this new law.
Same sex couples have had the right to marry for a couple of years in different parts of Canada. In Canada, we think everyone should have the same rights across the country, so it was important to get this legislation worked out. This legislation will permit any churches who are not comfortable marrying same sex couples to choose not to offer it.
What kills me though is that most of the news coverage shows gay guys kissing and hugging. I don't mind that, but I wish they would show some of the women (aka lesbians) as well, and the other people affected... including the many children of same sex couples and the grandparents and other family members involved. The news always seems to want to focus on the most controversial aspects of any given story.
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One day the United States will follow your wonderful example. Congratulations on the giant step forward.
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