Essay is about leaglizing same -sex marriage .and how it is already leagal in Canada

Essay by bubbles8University, Bachelor'sA, November 2003

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Same- Sex Marriage

The Gay community has been very effective in establishing the rights for same sex couples to Marry in Canada and across the United States. Same-sex rights in Canada have come a long way since 1965. It was then that the Supreme Court of Canada backed a ruling that labeled Everett Klippert a "dangerous sexual offender" and threw him in prison for admitting he was gay and that he had sex with other men. Not until 1967 did the U.S. Supreme Court strike down "antimiscegenation laws" criminalizing interracial marriages, as unconstitutional. This no longer happens, and we don't use such a strong word as dangerous sexual offender. In fact today homosexuals in Canada enjoy much more freedom and societal acceptance. Not only are they not imprisoned for their lifestyle choices, openly gay or lesbian Canadians hold prominent positions in business, government and many churches. People in Canada have the right to be with who they want.

Critics argue that homosexual marriage threatens the institution of marriage.

The gay community have battle the courts for a long time. Homosexuals in Canada want the right to be legally married, with all the same benefits and responsibilities as traditional opposite-sex couples - something the federal leadership seems to support. They want equal rights just like everyone else . There rights include as follow:

Appointment as guardian of a minor;

Award of child custody in divorce proceedings;

Beneficial owner status of corporate securities;

Bill of Rights benefits for victims and witnesses;

Burial of service member's dependents;

Certificates of occupation;

Consent to post-mortem examination;

Continuation of rights under existing homestead leases;

Control, division, acquisition, and disposition of community property

Criminal injuries compensation;

Death benefit for surviving spouse for government employee

Disclosure of vital statistics records;

Division of property after dissolution of marriage;

Eligibility for housing opportunity allowance program of the Housing, Finance and Development Corporation;

Exemption from claims of Department of Human Services for social services payments, financial assistance, or burial payments;

Exemption from conveyance tax;

Exemption from regulation of condominium sales to owner-occupants;

Funeral leave for government employees;

Homes of totally disable veterans exempt from property taxes;

Income tax deductions, credits, rates exemption, and estimates;

Inheritance of land patents;

Insurance licenses, coverage, eligibility, and benefits organization of mutual benefits society;

Legal status with partner's children;

Making, revoking, and objecting to anatomical gifts;

Making partner medical decisions;

Nonresident tuition deferential waiver;

Notice of guardian ad litem proceedings;

Notice of probate proceedings;

Payment of wages to a relative of deceased employee;

Payment of worker's compensation benefits after death;

Permission to make arrangements for burial or cremation;

Proof of business partnership;

Public assistance from the Department of Human Services;

Qualification at a facility for the elderly;

Real property exemption from attachment or execution;

Right of survivorship to custodial trust;

Right to be notified of parole or escape of inmate;

Right to change names;

Right to enter into pre-marital agreement;

Right to file action for nonsupport;

Right to inherit property;

Right to purchase leases and cash freehold agreements concerning the management and disposition of public land;

Right to sue for tort and death by wrongful act;

Right to support after divorce;

Right to support from spouse;

Rights and proceedings for involuntary hospitalization and treatment;

Rights by way of dour or courtesy;

Rights to notice, protection, benefits, and inheritance under the uniform probate code;

Sole interest in property;

Spousal privilege and confidential marriage communications;

Spousal immigration benefits;

Status of children;

Support payments in divorce action;

Tax relief for natural disaster losses;

Vacation allowance on termination of public employment by death;

Veterans' preference to spouse in public employment;

In vitro fertilization coverage;

As you can see there is an abundance of things that the gay community is missing out on just because of there preference on who the love. By United States law, the only people able to receive a marriage license are two people of the opposite sex. These laws, in order to be fair, should be applicable to all citizens, not just opposite-sex spouses. The gay community has made a lot of progress through the Canada court systems. In July 2003, the government unveiled draft legislation that would change the definition of marriage to include the unions of same-sex couples. This issue has caused an great uproar among certain church leaders and traditionalists who argue the government does not have the right to redefine marriage .There has been years of testimony and fair open trials have shown that the state has no good reason to continue harsh discrimination in civil marriage. With recent court rulings in Ontario and British Columbia, Canada, Marriage for same- sex couples is a reality. The federal Government has already made Changes to several laws so that same-sex couples have the same benefits and obligations as heterosexual common law couples. For most people, the phrase marriage conjures up images of a man and a woman being joined in together. On June 16, Canada's Minister of Justice Martin Cauchon advised the Prime Minister's cabinet to stop the court battles against gay and lesbian couples, and to accept same-sex marriage nation-wide. News traveled around the world on June 17 when Prime Minister Chretien announced the Canadian government would stop the legal battle and support rolling out equal marriage beyond Ontario, to the rest of Canada. people were not afraid any more to start coming out the closet. That is when the first member of parliament in 1989, Svend Robinson openly admit of being homosexual. He stated, "I wish I saw this type of quality in the House of Commons," said Robinson, . "Too often, there's no feeling, no power, no emotion. Canadian laws need to change to reflect current diversity." Sevend has tried to change the marriage laws in Canada before. He has created a bill that would recognize hate crimes. He has travel the states speaking to people and getting them aware about the unfairness of gays. Lesbians and gay men are battling for their civil rights in Congress, in courtrooms and in the streets. There is a real debate as well known figures are discussing their sexual orientation in public. Gay characters are featured in movies and on prime time television shows for example Rosie O'Donnell are Ellen two female stars who are open about being gay. More Americans today than ever before are aware of the concerns and needs of lesbians and gay men. Same-sex marriages deserve to be legalized and soon will be in this country. Homosexual couples are going to be entitled to the same rights as heterosexual couples. Official in Canada have announced plans to make it the law of the nation. The first legal marriage was performed in The Netherlands two gay male pensioners made Dutch legal history on Monday Jan. 7,1998 when they became the first same-sex couple to marry under the country's new gay marriage law, which went into effect at midnight on Jan. 1, 1998. This cause a big media frenzy for The Nerthlands. Still it has given gays the same rights as everyone else. The gay activists are now working on all fronts including a push to amend the U.S Constitution with vehemently anti-gay language to stop further advancement of civil marriage equality. As well as other efforts to ensure fair treatment for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Americans.

Gays have also successfully organizing rallies to favorable influence the public about gay rights. and set up web sites. But as lesbians and gay men have become empowered, and issues concerning them have gained national attention, antigay hostility has become more open and virulent.

There are an abundance of organizations who are organizing rallies. The PFLAG organization witch stands for Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians & Gays (PFLAG) is a national non-profit organization. Its has well over 200,000 members. There are an numerous number of supporters and almost 500 affiliates in the United States. They have worked vigorously over the last half century to eliminate state sponsored discrimination based upon race, religion, sex color and other differences. The (PFLAG) rallies on Sunday Aug. 25, 2003 it drew over 6,000 people to Parliament Hill in Ottawa. The rallies was a big success on pressuring the government to reconsider its plan to legalize marriage for gay men and lesbians. It picked up buy all the major news stations in Ottawa. It was a great day for the gay community in Canada. These demonstrations influences the community to be on there side. It does upset The Canadians, they feel uncomfortable about the degree to which the courts are imposing a view of society upon them. There are people who don't agree with them saying that ," Same- Sex Marriage would be an attack against freedom of religion". There are people that oppose the legalization of same-sex marriages, because they feel it's "morally" wrong. However, they are confusing religious aspects of marriage with legal ones.

There are also a lot of web sites in Canada that support Same-sex marriages. One that seems to stand out the most in Canada is called Gay People's Chronicle. This website is design just for The Gay community to post and express there thoughts on current issues. On this website deals it deals with a lot of issues on how gays aren't treated fairly. with the latest news, issues ,politics , forums and links to helpful websites. This web sites has a lot of information on how you can sign petitions and take surveys. One of the petitions that they would like for people to sign is called Gay and lesbian marriage crime and justice. It states," In the US, we are constantly being reminded not to discriminate against people because of their race, their gender, or their sexual orientation, yet we don't allow people to get married simply because they are of the same sex. Correct me if I'm wrong, but is this not a form or discrimination? It should be brought to a halt immediately, and people should be allowed the right to marry whom they choose." This is an petition that they post for supporters to sign. There are sections on hate crimes and Gays in the Military this website helps and supports gays it gives them a since of belonging.

There has also been issues about gays not being able to marry because they wouldn't be able to have a normal family. There are among an estimated 1 million to 9 million youngsters being raised in the United States today by gay or lesbian parents. Either same-sex couples or single parents. The number is almost certainly on the rise, as Gay men and Lesbians increasingly turn to adoption, co-parenting, surrogacy or assisted reproduction to bring children into their lives and homes. Others Don't agree The Bishop of St Albans, the Rt. Rev Christopher Herbert, said "it was undeniably the case that the best place for a child to grow up was in the context of a male-female relationship". He also stated that this meant in "normal families".

He is the only one who feels like that. I got a chance to interview a friend of mind name Coley. I asked, "How he felt about Gays being able marry legal and raise a family." He stated, "That God has love for all of us I don't really think that there is a big deal, there are so many other things that they could be doing wrong. I don't see the wrong between two people who love each other, and them raising a family is normal." Still there are thousands of kids who do grow up with an so call normal family and still get molested and abused! So to make a statement that kids need to be in context of male and a female is wrong. Gay-advocacy groups are proud of this trend. There are all sorts of kids being raised out there in wonderful homes headed by Gays. There is no evidence that shows that Gays can't be married and live a normal life. There just critics with opinions! There has not been a proven fact that if a same-sex couple married that there kids will be dysfunctional. There is absolutely no evidence that children are psychologically or physically harmed by having gay, lesbian or bisexual parents. On the other hand there is plenty of evidence that there not being harmed.

In the United States, homosexual marriage lacks full legal recognition in all 49 states. But the Massachusetts court went beyond equal rights for gay couples and directed the legislature to change the state's law to allow gay couples to Marry. Congress and the Massachusetts legislature are considering a constitutional amendment that would legally define a marriage as a union between a man and a woman. The Democratic presidential candidates said they would oppose such an effort. Separate is not equal, the right to marry is a civil right that should not be denied. Vermont now recognizes civil unions that give homosexual couples the full benefits and responsibilities of marriage but are separate from legal marriage. Americans now have the chance to see society can treat gay people with respect. Not having to always be hateful to these community of people. There is not just a couple of hundred of them now there are millions . We need to start being fare in this world.