OZIEWICZ m@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2003-06-11 published
Same-sex married couples rejoice
Ruling recognizes union of couples married in 2001; others rush
to wed
By Estanislao
OZIEWICZ
Wednesday,
June 11, 2003 - Page A4
Toronto -- For Kevin
BOURASSA, 45, and Joe
VARNELL, 33, becoming
Canada's first same-sex married couple is bittersweet, even as
advocates call their union a world first.
"Gee, I wish my mom could have seen this," Mr.
VARNELL said.
"Because of what the court did in Ontario today no mother will
ever again not be able to dance at her son's wedding. That's
a wonderful thing."
With his "lawfully wedded husband" at his side, Mr.
VARNELL said
they planned to celebrate by going home, popping a bottle of
champagne and cuddling with their cat.
"If you forgive me, I never want to see any of you in my living
room again," he said.
The pioneering couple, who were wed on January 14, 2001, and
other same-sex couples seeking to be married in civil ceremonies
were speaking at a news conference after a historic Ontario Court
of Appeal ruling that they have a constitutional right to marriage.
"Canada gets the gold medal for same-sex marriage around the
world," said Trent
MORRIS, lawyer for the Metropolitan Community
Church of Toronto.
"I would like to congratulate them for being the first same-sex
couple married not only in Canada but, as Mr.
MORRIS indicated,
the first same-sex couple in the world," said Cynthia
PETERSON,
lawyer for Equality for Gays And Lesbians Everywhere, a national
advocacy organization for gays and lesbians.
The Netherlands became the first country in the world to legalize
marriage for gays and lesbians on April 1, 2001. This year, Belgium
became the second country to open marriage to same-sex couples.
Unlike its northern neighbour, Belgium did not allow such couples
to adopt children.
Mr. VARNELL, an e-commerce consultant, and Mr.
BOURASSA, a former
bank manager who is now a full-time advocate for marriage equality,
were wed at the Metropolitan Community Church before the Dutch
law was changed, using an ancient -- and legally valid -- Christian
tradition of publication of banns, which amount to a notice of
intent to marry. This allowed them to avoid having to get a marriage
licence issued by the city.
The hitch, however, has been that whether a marriage in Ontario
is preceded by civil licence or by banns, it has to be registered
by the province's registrar-general.
Yesterday's court ruling not only ordered the City of Toronto
to issue licences to same-sex couples but also told the province
to register same-sex marriages. The city complied immediately,
and by late yesterday morning had issued licences to several
couples, including Ontario Crown attorney Michael
LESHNER, 55,
who a few hours later married his partner of two decades, Michael
STARK, 45, in front of Mr. Justice John
HAMILTON of the Ontario
Superior Court.
"This is first and foremost a Canadian love story," said Mr.
LESHNER, who has been a thorn in the side of the Ontario government
for years.
"This is why people come to Canada, because they marvel at our
values, and we've sent an unmistakable message that love can
conquer all, the love of two good men can defeat everything....
It [homophobia] is dead legally as of today."
The joy and optimism of homosexual groups was tempered by the
Ontario government's reluctance to embrace the ruling immediately
without reservation.
Attorney-General Norman
STERLING told the legislature that he
was waiting to hear whether the federal government would appeal
the decision to the Supreme Court. Although municipalities and
provinces administer marriages, the federal government is responsible
for defining marriage.
"We will, of course, follow what the court says in the decision
and follow that to the letter of the law," Mr.
STERLING said.
Among those celebrating yesterday were Joyce
BARNETT and Alison
KEMPER, who also picked up their marriage licences at Toronto
City Hall and will marry in July, 2004. The women, both of whom
are ordained in the Anglican Church, have been together since
Their two children were delighted. "I knew that nobody could
say I didn't have a family," said Robbie, 11, who was born to
Ms. KEMPER. "
Canada has finally figured out it's unfair to deny
this to anybody."
His sister Hannah, 17, said she has grown up to find that she
is heterosexual. She said she is indebted to her parents for
bringing her up "where it's okay to be what you want to be."
The court ruling did not sit well with some religious organizations,
including the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada.
Evangelical
Fellowship of Canada president Bruce
CELEMENGER said
the court has fundamentally redefined marriage.
"It is not an appropriate use of the Charter to redefine pre-existing
social, cultural and religious institutions," he said.
O... Names OZ... Names Welcome Home
OZIEWICZ - All Categories in OGSPI