Canada's first same-sex MILITARY wedding; props to jamesfowler

[Pinched from here.]

Airbase hosts 1st military gay wedding
Two men were married in the chapel at Nova Scotia's Greenwood airbase in May, in what's being called the Canadian military's first gay wedding.Lt.-Cmdr. David Greenwood, the base's head chaplain, said a sergeant and a warrant officer were married May 3 in front of about 45 guests. "This couple had been waiting a very long, long time," said Greenwood, declining to give their names because he hadn't asked for permission.

In September, the Nova Scotia Supreme Court ruled that banning same-sex marriages is unconstitutional, effectively changing the definition of marriage in the province to "the lawful union of two persons to the exclusion of all others." The military has said it's willing to host gay weddings in jurisdictions where it's legal.

A low-key marriage ceremony
Greenwood, an Anglican, did not perform the marriage but he did make the arrangements for the service while a United Church minister from nearby Wolfville performed the vows. "I looked after the co-ordination in accordance with our military policy of receiving the couple with dignity and respect," said Greenwood. "I was there to preach and welcome the community on behalf of the base chaplaincy."

While most Anglican dioceses in Canada do not perform same-sex marriages, the Canadian church has postponed its official decision until 2007. Greenwood said the ceremony was relaxed and low-key, and there wasn't a dry eye in sight when the couple signed the marriage documents. Greenwood said he has been told that a second same-sex marriage may be in the works this year, at CFB Valcartier in Quebec.

Same-sex marriage legal in 7 provinces, 1 territory
In 2004, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that Ottawa has exclusive jurisdiction to decide who has the right to get married in this country, but that religious groups are not obliged to perform unions against their beliefs. Federal politicians are now considering a same-sex marriage bill. Currently, same-sex marriages performed in seven provinces and one territory are legal and must be recognized. Same-sex marriages are not performed in Alberta, New Brunswick, P.E.I., Nunavut and the Northwest Territories, but the Nunavut government will recognize same-sex marriages performed elsewhere.


*sniff*

My email to pm@pm.gc.ca

I don't expect it will exactly change history, but I felt compelled to send this to Martin. Can you tell French ain't my first language?

English to follow]

Cher M. Le Président:

Aujourd'hui nous reston au bord de l'histoire.

Le peuple canadien a envoyé 200 députes à l'Ottawa, qui represent une partie qui a fait campagne à l'appui du mariage de même-sexe. Liberal, Bloc, NPD--chacun nous promit de supporter cette loi. Et le dialogue national a commencé plus tard, quand M. Chrétien a announcé le loi et le reférence du Court Suprême du Canada du même. Cela est juste et le temp est ici.

Je suis sociologue canadian. J'ai démeuré (temporairement) en Australie en 2003 avec un bourse post-doctoral du Conseil de recherches en sciences humaines du Canada. Ce bourse était une opportunitée extraordinaire pour moi: j'ai travaillé avec colleagues du calbre international, et j'ai fait un projet de recherche très très important. J'ai entrevu (plusieurs fois) les hommes jeunes et gai à Sydney et Vancouver. Pour eux, il y a trop de défis dans la vie: l'homophobie, violence, et lexclusion social song quotidiens. Et c'est important que les gars dans chaque sample (australien versus canadien) sont en tout accord que le loi du mariage de même-sexe au Canada leur donnait l'espoir.

Pendant mes «aventures antipodiens» j'ai reçu du bonis: un partenaire. Et je suis trés, trés fier que Max Parsons et moi, nous pouvions se marier au Canada, à Vancouver, en Octobre 2004. Trés, trés trés fier. Aujourd'hui, Max et moi faisons nos plans de démeurer au Canada--une entreprise difficile, sauf au matière de l'Immigration Canada. Le Consulate canadien ici a fait notre application vitement--parce que nos marriage est "vrai". Encore, je suis fier d'être canadien.

Ils sont temps durs à l'Ottawa maintenant, biensûr. Mais C-38 est balancé et juste. Je vous démande que les derniers votes au Commons sont fait ASAP.

Merci beaucoup,


JBC
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dear Prime Minister:

Today we stand on the edge of history.

The Canadian people sent 200 MPs to Ottawa who represent parties in favour of same-sex marriage. Liberal, Bloc and NDP--each party promised us to support such a law. The national dialogue began when M. Chrétien announced the law and the Supreme Court of Canada reference of same. This is just and fair and the time has come.

I am a Canadian sociologist. I moved (temporarily) to Australia in 2003, thanks to a SSHRC post-doctoral fellowship. This fellowship gave me the opportunity to work with international leaders in research, and to complete a study on a very important subject. I interviewed (several times) young gay men in Sydney and Vancouver. For these men, life is often hard: homophobia, violence and social exclusion are common. The guys in both samples (Sydney and Vancouver) all agreed that the pending same-sex marriage law gave them hope.

During my "antipodean adventures", I received a bonus: a partner. And I am very, very proud that Max Parsons and I were able to get married in Canada, in Vancouver, in October 2004. Very, very, very proud. Today Max and I are finalizing our plans to move to Canada--challenging to sort out except with respect to Immigration Canada. The Canadian Consulate here processed our application (for Max) quickly--because our marriage is "real". Again, I am proud to be Canadian.

Times are difficult in Ottawa right now. But C-38 is balanced and just. I ask you that the final vote in Commons comes ASAP.

Many thanks,

JBC