Gays
rush to altar, fearing marriage law at risk
Updated Thu. Jan. 19 2006 9:48 AM ET
CTV.ca
News Staff
Gay
couples across Canada are rushing to the altar, worried that a possible
Conservative government will reverse the legalization of same sex
marriages.
David
Lockwood and Jason Cass got married Wednesday in Toronto.
"We
decided Saturday night (to get married) Wednesday afternoon. The
election is Monday. We wanted to do it before Monday," Cass
said.
Conservative
Leader Stephen Harper said at the beginning of the election campaign
that he would allow a free vote on the issue if the Conservatives
form the next government.
Pastor
Mickey Wilson in Edmonton is scheduled to marry five same-sex couples
in 10 days.
Toronto's
city hall wedding co-ordinator, Louise Code, said there are 10 same-sex
marriages booked for Friday.
"We've
noticed a considerable surge in same-sex weddings that wish to be
performed," she said.
So
has Winnipeg wedding planning company Pride Bride.
Co-owner
Rita Leonard told CTV's Canada AM Thursday her company has been
getting many more calls than usual with the looming election. Some
couples are considering marriage as a political statement and others
are just looking at holding their weddings sooner, she said.
"For
the most part we're telling people to be cautious, you know, take
your time, don't rush into anything," Leonard said.
"Nothing
is going to change overnight," added Pride Bride's marriage
commissioner, Paula Rutledge. "We have lots of time, and we
don't feel that people have to panic."
Ontario
Health Minister George Smitherman and his partner are also considering
pushing up their marriage date if Harper becomes prime minister.
"We're
concerned that the rights we currently have that are constitutionally
guaranteed are put at risk by Mr. Harper," Smitherman said.
Same-sex
marriage was legalized by the Liberal government last spring when
it changed the definition of marriage to include such unions.
Rutledge
said she doesn't think revoking the rights would be easy or fair.
"You
can't put the genie back in the bottle, and for us to have no equality
with a similar same-sex couple that lives next door to us, I just
can't see it."
The
wedding rush is occurring as Vote Marriage Canada, a supporter of
traditional marriage, released on Wednesday a list of 50 election
candidates it is endorsing. The list includes Conservative candidates
such as Stephen Harper, Jason Kenney and Vic Toews, who are opposed
to same-sex marriage.
The
group's leader, former Conservative MP Grant Hill, called for a
free vote on the issue.
"Win
or not, I'll be satisfied with the results of a free vote,"
he said.
Another
group, Equipping Christians for the Public Square, is encouraging
Christians to vote for candidates who favour traditional marriage.
"We're
saying look at the candidates and those candidates who are going
to defend that institution (of marriage), those are the ones we're
encouraging you to vote for," Rev. Kirstin Emanuel, a Presbyterian
minister and president of the group, told CTV's Mike Duffy.
Liberal
Leader Paul Martin also brought up the issue Wednesday. He said
Harper is "out of step" with Canadian values on issues
including same sex-marriage and abortion.
"The
question isn't change. It's change for what? I don't believe that
Canadians want to roll back the clock."
Some
are questioning whether a Harper government would have the constitutional
right to redefine marriage as being a union between a man and a
woman.
"Ultimately,
it's clear that it won't work to try and take away equal marriage,''
said Laurie Arron, director of advocacy for Egale Canada, a gay
and lesbian rights organization said. He added that courts in eight
provinces have already ruled it's unconstitutional to exclude same-sex
couples from civil marriage.
Justice
Minister Irwin Cotler said the concerns of gay couples aren't unwarranted.
"What's
troubling people isn't the immediate effect of what Mr. Harper intends,
but the cast of mind that is so quick to over ride the constitution
and charter of rights," he said on Countdown with Mike Duffy.
Duffy
also questioned whether the Liberal Party has a double standard
because 32 of its MPs voted against same sex marriage last year.
Cotler
reiterated the Liberals are concerned about Harper's lack of respect
for the Charter of Rights.
With
files from CTV's Austin Delaney, Erin Isfeld and The Canadian Press
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060118/elxn_gay_marriage_060118A/20060119?s_name=election2006 |
