Same Sex Marriage: Canada

Canada Faces the Challenges of Same-Sex Marriage

Same-sex relationships have been in existence for centuries, even dating back to Biblical times. Same-sex relationships have been viewed negatively by a majority in Canada and throughout the world. Due to fear of scorn or persecution, these couples kept their relationships secret. Today same-sex couples are more open about their sexual lifestyle. In the past decade, same-sex couples have made considerable progress in their efforts to increase public tolerance and to ensure their civil rights, including the right to marry, through new government legislation.

Canada has been deeply divided on the issue of same-sex marriage. One major dividing factor is religion -- religious conservatives overwhelming oppose it, yet religious liberals favor it. Another dividing factor is age -- older adults strongly oppose it, yet young adults strongly favor it. Canada has had to face many challenges with this controversial issue.

Some important milestones in the legal history of same-sex marriage in Canada are:

1. In Year 2000, the Canadian government passed Omnibus Bill C-23, which extended the benefits and obligations to persons in same-sex relationships, but excluded their right to marry.
2. In early 2001, two same sex couples were married in a church service in Toronto, Ontario; however, the Ontario government refused to issue them marriage licenses.
3. In mid-2003, the Ontario Court of Appeal ruled that refusing licenses to same-sex couples was discrimination based on sexual orientation and a violation of their rights to equality under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The Court's ruling changed the definition of marriage from being "the voluntary union for life of one man and one woman" to "the voluntary union for life of two persons to the exclusion of others."
4. In mid-2005, same-sex marriage was legalized throughout Canada by the Bill C-38, also known as the "Civil Marriage Act." Canada became the 4th country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage. (The first three countries are the Netherlands, Belgium, and Spain.)

Because of the huge impact same-sex marriage has on the family and children, it affects everyone. Whether the effect will be positive or negative, is yet to be seen.