 |
|
|
of Same-Sex Couples House of Lords Thwart Section 28 Repeal House of Commons Votes to Lower Age for Gay Sex |
|
By Rex Wockner International News Report Canada to Equalize the Status of Same-Sex Couples
The bill is a response to a string of recent court decisions, the most important of which was last year's Supreme Court ruling that Ontario's definition of "spouse" was unconstitutionally heterosexist. The legislation will rewrite more than 60 federal laws in areas ranging from pensions and insurance to income tax and prison visits. "This is a historic day for our communities," said Kim Vance, president of the national lobby group Equality for Gays and Lesbians Everywhere (EGALE). "The federal government has recognized in unequivocal terms the right of same-sex couples to equal treatment before the law. This far-reaching piece of legislation not only recognizes same-sex relationships as equivalent to opposite-sex common-law relationships, it also extends many of the rights and responsibilities of married couples to both same-sex and opposite-sex common-law partners." EGALE Executive Director John Fisher added: "For too long, same- sex relationships have been stigmatized as inferior to opposite- sex relationships. This bill provides a symbolic affirmation of the equal validity and worth of same-sex relationships. As federal law, these amendments will set a national standard across Canada, requiring our relationships to be treated with equal dignity and respect." Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia already give gay and lesbian couples the rights accorded common-law opposite-sex couples. Other provinces and territories are expected to follow suit shortly. House of Lords Thwart Section 28 Repeal
"The government cannot get past the House of Lords and they cannot put this on the statute book until the Lords agree," said MP Stuart Bell. Ordinarily, Britain's House of Commons, which is elected, can vote to overrule the unelected House of Lords, but not this time, since the bill originated with the Lords. Meanwhile, anti-Section 28 protesters halted traffic in Piccadilly Circus February 8 by hijacking a double-decker bus and painting it pink. They brandished banners reading "Repeal Section 28" and "Let there be love." Ten of the demonstrators were arrested for causing criminal damage. House of Commons Votes to Lower Age for Gay Sex Britain's House of Commons voted 263 to 102 February 10 to lower the age of consent for male-male sex from 18 to 16, in line with that for heterosexual and lesbian sex.
"For me the issue raised in this bill is one of equality, of seeking to create a society which is free from prejudice, of one where our relationships with others, including with strangers, are based upon respect and not upon fear," said Home Secretary Jack Straw. |
Canada's government introduced legislation February 11 that grants
gay couples all the federal benefits received by common-law
opposite-sex spouses and extends to gay and straight common-law
couples many marriage rights that neither group currently has.
Britain's Home Secretary Jack Straw in the House of Commons 
© 1997-2000 BEI