Equal marriage legislation passes Canada's House of Commons

[jawnbc]

In the end the vote was decisive: 158 in favour, 133 against.

I've been tearing up watching this--for all sorts of reasons. But what particularly moved me was that each openly queer Member received a burst of applause.

The Senate should approve this is short order, then it's time for Royal Assent and the Bill becomes law.

Thank you Gawd for letting me become a Canadian. Thank you Canada for treating me and my family as equals.

Comments

[garpu.livejournal.com]

Congrats! Maybe other countries will follow suit. Is there still a chance it could get vetoed?

[jawnbc]

Thanks!

Canada's Senate is really a parking lot for dinosaurs. It's appointed by the government and it's almost unheard of for them to even delay legislation. Plus the Senate (and its committees) have been involved in this legislation for some time. I'd say 99.99% no chance of a hiccup. Expect it to become law mid to late July.

[ruralrob.livejournal.com]

Hey Jawn. I'm celebrating here with a can of Sprite and a chocolate chip cookie. (We do things in style in Nanookville, you know.)

Yay us, I say!

[jawnbc]

Yay us indeed. I'm just in from querrelle's farewell work lunch (his last day is Friday, though we're not moving until Aug), where he proudly announced to our colleagues about this great, great day in Canada.

We toasted with Coke and Diet Coke! Woo hoo!

[bookbear.livejournal.com]

Would this make it leagal across the country, in all Providences?

[jawnbc]

Exactly. Currently only 2 provinces and 2 territories don't extend equal marriage. They'll now have to.

[enhydrasf.livejournal.com]

That's fecking great!

[jawnbc]

Agreed!

Why aren't you on da beach?

[poohbearjim.livejournal.com]

Congratulations, John!

[jawnbc]

Thanks Jim--ooh I got a sexy party? Even better!

[stoplabelingme.livejournal.com]

As my roommate Eric just said "Congratulations Canada, they're so much better than the rest of us."

[jawnbc]

Not really. Perhaps reasoned and dispassionate. Oh, and sceptical of theocrats.

[soeursansmerci.livejournal.com]

I am SO happy!! Thank you, Canada, for showing us the way!!

[jawnbc]

Thanks!

[logisticslad.livejournal.com]

This very cool to hear! Way to go Canada! The US still has a long way to go...

[jawnbc]

Thanks. You need to get yourselves one of these. Works wonders!

[zurcherart.livejournal.com]

Congrats. So now do you get married again ... or just have a second honeymoon?

[jawnbc]

We've not had a first honeymoon!

More buggery, of course.

How's things with you?

[zurcherart.livejournal.com]

Buggery is good ... me, I'm ok. Pretty good in fact.

In gay marriage news here, The Swiss "Justice Department" has decided that all the Swiss registrations on the kantonal level are not valid on the federal level - and can't be automatically transferred. Everyone registered in Zurich State (the news reports I read didn't say anything about Geneva or Neuchatel) will have to re-register. Meanwhile, in light of that, Zurich shutdown new Kantonal level registrations - without warning, so bad luck to the couple who was on their way to the courthouse the next day - for the year and a half, or more, that it will take the "Justice Department" to implement the new partnership. Since the "justice department" has been taken over by the nastiest right-wing politician in Switzerland, I would cry foul, except I know that's just the way things work. (Although, there would be room for nastiness, i.e. Ursula's partner dies and Vreni's family challenges the will between the time that the partnership ceased to be valid in Zurich, but before the re-registration is completed on the Federal level, in reality the courts have been "de facto" recognizing gay partnerships for almost four years as everyone assumed it would just be a matter of time. So things should run smoothly.)

[superbbluewren.livejournal.com]

It was good to hear the news today! Go, Canada. It makes one feel what a heartbreak of a country Australia has become.

[carharttmo.livejournal.com]

Wonderful news. Sad that the US wont follow suit anytime soon. Perhaps Hause and I should look into moving to Canada! :-)

Hugs!

[trevd.livejournal.com]

I'm too excited for words over this!

Quote of Pres #3

[toneyvr.livejournal.com]

Rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add 'within the limits of the law' because law is often but the tyrant's will, and always so when it violates the rights of the individual.
-Thomas Jefferson, third US president, architect and author (1743-1826)

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