CONTACTStaffCAREER OPPORTUNITIESADVERTISE WITH USPRIVACY POLICYPRIVACY PREFERENCESTERMS OF USELEGAL NOTICE
© 2024 Pride Publishing Inc.
All Rights reserved
All Rights reserved
By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use.
The Canadian government introduced its contentious same-sex marriage bill in parliament on Tuesday, seeking to legalize gay marriage nationwide over the objections of the Roman Catholic Church and other conservative clergy. Justice minister Irwin Cotler, upon introducing the bill, said the legislation reflects the spirit of Canadian rights and freedoms protected under the constitution. "Canada is a land built on a tradition of equality and respect," Cotler said. "It is the responsibility of parliament to ensure that minority rights are uniform across the country. The government cannot, and should not, pick and choose which rights they will defend and which rights they will ignore." But the country is deeply divided on the issue, and the bill's passage is not assured. The opposition Conservative Party said it will fight the legislation, which defines marriage as a civil union between two people, as opposed to the current definition of marriage between a man and a woman. "Marriage is a historical union that has existed between a man and a woman. It has been recognized in that way by cultures across time," said Vic Toews of the Conservative Party. Prime Minister Paul Martin, whose minority Liberal government drafted the legislation, defended the proposed bill on Tuesday. "Canada is a country where minorities are protected," he said. Martin has staked his leadership on the issue, saying he was prepared to call early elections to defend the right of same-sex couples to marry. He insisted that a clause in the legislation reinforced a supreme court ruling in December that stipulates that no place of worship would be forced to perform gay unions against doctrine. For passage, the bill needs approval from 154 members of the 308-seat house of commons. If approved, Canada would join Belgium and the Netherlands as the only countries to embrace same-sex marriage nationwide. Cotler noted that seven of Canada's 13 provinces and territories already allow same-sex marriage--which will still be legal in those areas even if the bill is defeated--and he said it was time to make the law uniform nationwide. Roman Catholic Church groups have joined forces with other religious groups to defeat the legislation, with Quebec archbishop Marc Cardinal Ouellet saying the bill "threatens to unleash nothing less than cultural upheaval whose negative consequences are still impossible to predict." The legislation will have to go to committee for study, and it could take weeks, or even months, for a final vote. (AP)
Want more breaking equality news & trending entertainment stories?
Check out our NEW 24/7 streaming service: the Advocate Channel!
Download the Advocate Channel App for your mobile phone and your favorite streaming device!
From our Sponsors
Most Popular
Here Are Our 2024 Election Predictions. Will They Come True?
November 07 2023 1:46 PM
Meet all 37 of the queer women in this season's WNBA
April 17 2024 11:24 AM
17 Celebs Who Are Out & Proud of Their Trans & Nonbinary Kids
November 30 2023 10:41 AM
Here Are the 15 Most LGBTQ-Friendly Cities in the U.S.
November 01 2023 5:09 PM
Which State Is the Queerest? These Are the States With the Most LGBTQ+ People
December 11 2023 10:00 AM
These 27 Senate Hearing Room Gay Sex Jokes Are Truly Exquisite
December 17 2023 3:33 PM
10 Cheeky and Homoerotic Photos From Bob Mizer's Nude Films
November 18 2023 10:05 PM
42 Flaming Hot Photos From 2024's Australian Firefighters Calendar
November 10 2023 6:08 PM
These Are the 5 States With the Smallest Percentage of LGBTQ+ People
December 13 2023 9:15 AM
Here are the 15 gayest travel destinations in the world: report
March 26 2024 9:23 AM
Watch Now: Advocate Channel
Trending Stories & News
For more news and videos on advocatechannel.com, click here.
Trending Stories & News
For more news and videos on advocatechannel.com, click here.
Latest Stories
Biden will hammer Trump over abortion bans in Florida speech
April 23 2024 5:00 AM
Tristan Snell, who brought down Trump University, sees conviction in hush money case
April 22 2024 7:36 PM
Joe Biden admin marks Earth Day with major environmental initiatives
April 22 2024 4:18 PM
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott: 'We want to end' trans and gender nonconforming teachers
April 22 2024 4:13 PM
Nonbinary 17-year-old killed two years after being reported missing
April 22 2024 3:46 PM
Pride
Yahoo FeedIndulge in luxury and sensuality with The Pride Store’s Taurus gift guide
April 22 2024 11:46 AM
The gay man leading the Earth Day Initiative offers hope for the future
April 22 2024 9:00 AM
Pattie Gonia takes drag and fierceness to Capitol Hill to voice environmental concerns
April 22 2024 8:23 AM
Jodie Foster leaves her mark in cement at L.A.'s Chinese Theatre
April 22 2024 7:55 AM