General Chat

Canada's Parliament has passed the same-sex marriage bill.

The Bill is expected to be passed in the senate, and become Federal law within weeks. The Bill covers CIVIL unions.

about time too!! Marriage is about commitment and if same sex want to commit then who are we to judge!! Come on britain - keep up!!

Hi Roxanne, all couples marrying under civil license will, once the same-sex bill is brought into law, be equal under the law. Patty x I should add to the above, the bill relates to CIVIL marriages only.

COME ON THE UK!!!!

:-) Family tree building program makers please take note! ;-P x Jen

Blimey, Jen. That's a good point. I've not had to cope with that problem - yet! In the same sort of idea, what about children to such marriages, by anonymous artificial insemination? There has been a lot of debate about this over here, and in an almost free vote it passed by a small margin. Politically, it's the right wing which is opposed, and who say they'll repeal the law if they get elected. An election is likely later this year or early next since the ruling Liberals have an extremely narrow margin of seats, and a lot of ongoing problems. Michael

Hi Michael :-) There are people out there, with or without a 'civil' ceremony, that have been bringing up children together for years, sometimes since the child's birth. But these people will not fit on a family tree program even in 'adopted' notation fields at all. Shame. :-( Being of the Red persuasion I hope Canada's Liberals stay in, not that I know much about the place. xx Jen

“Marriage has from time immemorial been firmly grounded in our legal tradition, one that is itself a reflection of longstanding philosophical and religious traditions. But its ultimate raison d'etre transcends all of these and is firmly anchored in the biological and social realities that heterosexual couples have the unique ability to procreate, that most children are the product of these relationships, and that they are generally cared for and nurtured by those who live in that relationship. In this sense, marriage is by nature heterosexual.' - former Justice Gerard La Forest of the Supreme Court of Canada “We hope that our MPs will realize that a majority of Canadians do not want this change, and will remember how their MP voted at the next election.” “Almost 60 per cent of Canadians want the traditional definition of marriage preserved and protected,” said Gairdner. “It’s clear that Canadians do not want to see the traditional definition of marriage altered or changed. Our political leaders need to listen to Canadians. The people of this country do not want profound changes to the definition of marriage.” end of quotes. Homosexuals already have the protection of the law that gives them all them all the same rights under the Canadian Charter of Rights as heterosexuals. ‘Marriage’ is between a man and a woman with the ultimate goal to procreate. A civil union would better describe a union between any others whatever their preferences be – but not ‘marriage’. I can forsee many, many problems surfacing from the Liberal decision to thrust upon Canadians something the majority do not want. Canada is being ruled now by a dictatorship that caters to minorities. What happened to majority rule? Think it’s hard now -be thankful that you will not be doing genealogy in the future!

Thanks everyone for responding. I wouldn't imagine it will be any more difficult to fit same sex partners and/or their children into some family tree programmes, than it is to fit any other family unit which is not recognised, so to speak, by programmes limited in scope to the 'traditional' Old Fashioned Albertan, while I deeply appreciate your comments and have complete respect for your opinion. I am myself inclined to view this as a constitutional law issue. In my own opinion, the constitutional affects the civil laws under which all of us live. The canon affects only the religious laws under which some of us may choose to live. Patty :-)

Hi, Jen and Albertan, I dunno! As far as future genealogy goes, I'd like to get my hands on the 1911 census! But, - so far - in the (is it seven?) provinces who have already passed same sex marriage legislation, I'm not aware of problems. Personally, I'm wary of blanket statements by anybody saying the likes of '60% of Canadians' agree on anything. It seems out of character! A couple of decades ago, in the newly minted fax era, (remember then?) a sheet came around translating various quasi scientific statements. Although it was flippant, I'm still careful to apply some of the lessons. One or two were the likes of 'Everybody knows that...' Meaning 'I think that...'. And 'It is widely believed...' = 'Jones thinks so too!' and the like. Statistics can be a devil, and politically, are often totally untrustworthy. So, my approach is to give it a few years away from the politicos and lawyers and news-people, and see how it works in practice. Real people have far more common sense than any of them. I think! Michael

There can NEVER be a 'Same sex marriage' whatever the law may say a marriage is a creation ordinance, between a man and a woman. The only reason we have this discussion is because we have accepted wholeheartedly the 'evolution' nonsense, where anything goes D

I don't see that people shouldn't be able to marry if they wish, as long as both parties are free to do so and it's a civil ceremony, not a religious one. Most religions don't allow it, and I believe what I was taught - that if you're an adherent of a religion, then you should follow all of its teachings. CB >|<

Michael, Couldn't agree with you more on all points made. Patty :-)

Thank you for respecting my opinion - as I do yours but we all know the havoc and expense the constitution has caused already. Nevertheless homosexuals do have exactly the same rights as heterosexuals with regard to the law. As one of the 60% who hold the view that marriage is between a man and a woman I dislike the idea that traditional ‘marriage’ is debased by calling the union of two of the same sex by that connotation. I foresee in the future that there will be court cases to sue the churches for refusing to perform same sex marriages. If you are Canadian you know that will happen, in spite of Mr. M’s statements. The whole constitution is gradually being debated in the courts anyway. What will we have next – the right for polygamy?

That is one of the reasons I am glad I am an atheist. Yes the bible says its wrong, but luckily I don't live by the bible or Christian beliefs. In my view the ideal World is a World without Marriage for anyone, but we live in a World that isn't ideal. Maybe those who feel same sex marriages are wrong should just stop a minute and think back to a times when people thought mix race marriages were wrong. Obviously In the days of slavery this would never have happened yet it was ok to use black people or even fall in love with them as long as you did not marry them, keep it all under wraps, what the eye doesn't see, is the way some people live their lives, this happened up to recently in Africa. What about people of different religions marrying? Catholics and Protestants and how families are set against each other, why? because of religious beliefs and the prejudices they sometimes bring forth. I cannot believe that 60% of Canadians believe its wrong for same sex marriages, unless they asked the staunch religious old guard and the status quo believers it seems very strange. I believe everyone has the right to civil marriage, the same way I married, it's wrong to discriminate against anyone on any grounds, and 100 years time we will I am sure look back at same sex marriages same way as Americans did mix marriages, and Africans only recently have done. I don't think we will have trouble with geneology from this side of marriages, but we may have problems from all the divorces, seperations and remarrying that happens. Everyone to their own opinion, everyone is entitled to it, but i wanted to share mine as I absolutely hate discrimination in all its different forms. I am pleased that the Canadian Government is doing this and I do hope other Governments will follow suit sooner rather the better, I hope eventually we will all be regarded as equals and be allowed all the same rights, thats my ideal World, I hope I live to see that day. One Love, Respect Pat x

Brian (i) thank you for that. Albertan, I can appreciate your concerns about future challenges. But it appears that religious freedom is well protected already, and under this new law most especially with regards the right on behalf of religious institutions to non-recognition or blessing of same sex unions. Some religions, my own included, do not recognise divorced persons as free to marry within the church. So far there have been no challenges based upon the refusal of the R.C. church to marry divorced persons who are of course, legally entitled to marry in a civil ceremony. (No doubt in other churches not governed by the same or similar matrimonial laws as the R.C. church) Regards, Patty

Regardless of religion, the law or anything else, it is obvious, or should be to any thinking person, that a man and woman go together, and a man and man, or woman and woman, dont'.

Yes Brian Goodnight. Dave

Brian that comment by you about Muslem Countries proves my point about religion, and one of the various reasons it has no place in my life. We should be campaigning against the injustice of muslem countries killing and mutalating people all in the name of religion, its disgusting. I like to think I believe everyone is equal if you are hetrosexual or homosexual it doesn't change my opinion of you, it is part of you, but not the complete you. What does my sexuality have to do with the question here? all of us have an opinion and we sometimes need to express it, no matter what we are, I could be a mix race jewish bi-sexual, anarchist, so does my opinion count? it should, we all have one, so let it be heard. I live and let live, why? because i do not follow any religion I do not believe I need to live by something I do not believe in, as I do not believe in god, I dislike the religious way of life which I find hypocritical. Thats my opinion and it does not change no matter what others believe. Pat x Brian, Just to let you know, I am a happily married woman to a man who is also an atheist, we have been together 20 years, married 15years. We are lucky we believe the same things and are very happy we have three healthy children eldest just 18, 14, and 11 years old I hope they follow me in believing everyone is equal and we should all defend the right to free speech. Respect Pat x