Mendalla
Happy headbanging ape!!
- Pronouns
- He/Him/His
July 20, 2005 saw the enactment of the Civil Marriages Act, making same sex marriages legal across Canada. While court decisions had legalized it in some provinces as early as 2003 (here in Ontario), this extended it across the country. I actually thought it was more like 15 years and was a bit surprised when I looked it up today to see that it is now 20. I was still an active UU then and knew a number of lesbian couples, some of whom did avail themselves of the change.
Twenty years on, there doesn't even seem to be much debate anymore outside of social conservative circles. A majority of Canadians support the act and running against it is pretty much political suicide these days. The act did leave an exemption for churches and clergy who don't support it to not offer same sex weddings (it had to given freedom of conscience in the charter of rights), but many of the big mainstream churches have got onside over the years since, with the RCs being the notable exception.
So when I had this realization, I thought I would post a thread to celebrate and see where people here are at. Been to any same sex weddings (I haven't yet)? Know any married same sex couples? Have there been any battles fought over this in churches you know of?
And, yes, you can probably tell where I stand from the title. If there is love, marriage should be an option. Period.
(PS. I am aware some gay people see marriage as a heteronormative institution and reject it. That's a valid stance but those who do value it should still have the right.)
Twenty years on, there doesn't even seem to be much debate anymore outside of social conservative circles. A majority of Canadians support the act and running against it is pretty much political suicide these days. The act did leave an exemption for churches and clergy who don't support it to not offer same sex weddings (it had to given freedom of conscience in the charter of rights), but many of the big mainstream churches have got onside over the years since, with the RCs being the notable exception.
So when I had this realization, I thought I would post a thread to celebrate and see where people here are at. Been to any same sex weddings (I haven't yet)? Know any married same sex couples? Have there been any battles fought over this in churches you know of?
And, yes, you can probably tell where I stand from the title. If there is love, marriage should be an option. Period.
(PS. I am aware some gay people see marriage as a heteronormative institution and reject it. That's a valid stance but those who do value it should still have the right.)
