World
CONTACTAbout UsCAREER OPPORTUNITIESADVERTISE WITH USPRIVACY POLICYPRIVACY PREFERENCESTERMS OF USELEGAL NOTICE
© 2025 Equal Entertainment LLC.
All Rights reserved
All Rights reserved
By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
We need your help
Your support makes The Advocate's original LGBTQ+ reporting possible. Become a member today to help us continue this work.
Your support makes The Advocate's original LGBTQ+ reporting possible. Become a member today to help us continue this work.
Equality Forum honors Canada as "featured nation"
Equality Forum, the annual international gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender civil rights conference and festival, announced Friday that Canada will be its featured nation for the 2004 gathering, scheduled for late April and early May in Philadelphia. For the past two years, the forum has had an international partner: In 2002, when Equality Forum was still called Pridefest America, the country was South Africa; Germany was featured in 2003.
At a press conference at Philadelphia's Independence National Historical Park, Equality Forum executive director Malcolm Lazin said that the board of directors' choice of Canada for 2004 was unanimous and that Canada has led on issues of GLBT civil rights, exemplifying extreme equality. This past summer Canadian courts ruled that the nation's constitution required the legalization of same-sex marriages, which are now legal in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia. The Canadian parliament is considering a bill, supported by the prime minister, to legalize same-sex marriage in the rest of the nation.
In anticipation of the proceedings in May, Lazin said, Equality Forum has bestowed its Distinguished Leadership Award upon Kevin Bourassa and Joe Varnell of Toronto, Canada's first legally married same-sex couple. "We are honored to have Equality Forum, the premiere international GLBT forum, bestow this award," Bourassa said. "We look forward to serving on the International Family Values Panel and Gay Marriage Panel at Equality Forum 2004."
Lazin also praised the institution that served as a backdrop for the press conference. "We are delighted to add the National Constitution Center to our list of collaborating partners," he said. "We will hold a presidential election 2004 [program] at the National Constitution Center, [focusing on] how GLBT issues involving constitutional freedoms impact the 2004 federal elections."
Equality Forum--which includes cultural events, panel discussions, brainstorming seminars, awards presentations, and many community-wide parties--will be held April 26 to May 2, 2004. "Philadelphia is the site of the nation's first gay rights protests--even before the Stonewall Riots," said John Cochie, chairman of the Philadelphia Gay Tourism Caucus. "It is therefore appropriate that Equality Forum brings people from around the world to discuss gay and lesbian issues in the shadow of the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall."
For further information, visit the Equality Forum Web site at www.equalityforum.com.
Recommended Stories for You
From our Sponsors
Most Popular
More Videos
0 seconds of 2 minutes, 9 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
Keyboard Shortcuts
Shortcuts Open/Close/ or ?
Play/PauseSPACE
Increase Volume↑
Decrease Volume↓
Seek Forward→
Seek Backward←
Captions On/Offc
Fullscreen/Exit Fullscreenf
Mute/Unmutem
Decrease Caption Size-
Increase Caption Size+ or =
Seek %0-9
Copied
Live
00:00
02:09
02:09
Watch Now: Pride Today
Latest Stories
PEPFAR likely to be exempt from spending cuts
July 15 2025 4:50 PM
Man who endured antigay exorcism wins historic settlement with Church of England
July 15 2025 2:40 PM
Boston opens new park named after murdered Black transgender woman Rita Hester
July 15 2025 12:31 PM
Daily newsletter 7/16
8 hours ago
Kevin Spacey demands release of Epstein files
11 hours ago
ICE frees transgender asylum seeker from detention after Oregon court order
July 15 2025 5:45 PM