Canadian
conservatives mobilize to kill same-sex marriage

Right-wing Canadian groups are mobilizing forces in an effort to take advantage of the country's new conservative prime minister and rescind same-sex marriage rights.

The Defend Marriage Coalition, which consists of 12 smaller conservative groups all dedicated to ending marriage equality for gays, issued an alert recently calling for religious leaders and congregants to contact local members of parliament and urge them to rescind same-sex marriage. Gay rights groups, including Canadians for Equal Marriage, claim that Prime Minister Stephen Harper is delaying a promised parliamentary vote on same-sex marriage so right-wing groups have time to pressure their MPs to kill same-sex marriage in Canada.

"Mr. Harper's delay of the vote clearly panders to the religious right," said Kaj Hasselriis, spokesman for Canadians for Equal Marriage. "Those who want to roll back the clock on equality know they would lose if a vote were held any time soon. Their only option is to have Mr. Harper delay the vote." (The Advocate)