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)