Canadian
government deciding whether to reopen same-sex marriage
debate

In an effort to bring about a new debate on the marriage equality issue, opponents to Canada's 2005 legalization of same-sex marriage gathered in front of Parliament House in the capital of Ottawa Tuesday in an attempt to sway members of parliament to revisit the issue again, reports CanWest News Service. Although it is believed by both supporters and opponents of same-sex marriage that the house of commons will reject reopening the debate because more than 10,000 gay couples have already wed in Canada, both sides are armed with reports and studies to sway the votes of members of parliament. In their first move Tuesday, the Defend Marriage Coalition held a day of private meetings with MPs to discuss traditional marriage values. ''We are attempting to meet with the MPs who can be swayed,'' said the group's organizer, Charles McVety. Canadians for Equal Marriage issued two press releases on Monday countering the claims of its opponents, who often cite a French parliament report that same-sex marriage and adoption by gays have adverse effects on children. The Canadian Psychological Association and the Canadian Association of Social Workers say children of same-sex unions are better off if their parents are married. "Opponents of equal marriage seem to base their arguments on the false assumption that excluding same-sex couples from marriage would prevent them from having or raising children,'' said Eugenia Moreno, executive director of the Canadian Association of Social Workers. ''In fact, same-sex couples do have and raise children, and excluding them from marriage would only harm these children.'' Laurie Arron, a spokesman for the pro-marriage equality group, cited a poll conducted by the firm Environics in June that revealed that two thirds of Canadians, including some of those who oppose same-sex marriage, are against reopening debate. (The Advocate)