Same sex marriage: Bill C-38
I was shocked and angry to find that my MP is voting against Bill C-38. Below is my letter to him.
Please visit Canadians for Equal Marriage to see what you can do to help.
For those of you who are broken-hearted about missing my birthday on the 15th, there’s still time to get me a fabulous gift - a donation to the good folks above would bring me great joy.
Other links:
Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
You may also write to your M.P. directly at the following address:
First name, Last name, M.P.
House of Commons, Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6
My letter:
Francis Scarpaleggia, M.P.
House of Commons, Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6
Dear Sir,
I am a happily married heterosexual woman and I am dismayed to find that you will be voting against bill C-38.
While same-sex marriage is a controversial and emotional topic; dislikes, discomfort, fear and intolerance should not be allowed to take precedence over human rights.
Our wonderful Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms states the following:
1. The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantees the rights and freedoms set out in it subject only to such reasonable limits prescribed by law as can be demonstrably justified in a free and democratic society.
(1) Every individual is equal before and under the law and has the right to the equal protection and equal benefit of the law without discrimination and, in particular, without discrimination based on race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, sex, age or mental or physical disability.
While all Canadians have the freedom to express their concerns regarding this issue, it is important that this freedom is not confused with denying rights to others.
I respectfully implore you to vote in favour of Bill C-38.
March 18th, 2005 at 5:23 pm
I hope it passes. It will result (hopefully) in more fags from the USA going to your country! If you think your healthcare budget is heavy now - just wait!
LOL
March 18th, 2005 at 5:31 pm
Maddie Dog - Thanks for stopping by, don’t let the door hit you on the ass on your way out.
LOL
March 19th, 2005 at 3:12 pm
That’s a great letter. I hope there are a million more just like it on their way to Parliament right now.
March 19th, 2005 at 3:37 pm
Excuse me, but just like in the U.S. the ‘gays’ DO have the same rights as everyone else. They can’t marry people of the same sex just like heterosexual people can’t marry people of the same sex. They can marry people of the opposite sex, just like heterosexual people can marry people of the opposite sex. ‘Being in Love’ is NOT a good enough reason to either get married or be allowed to marry (witness all the marriages that were based on that that broke up). Marriage is something that we try to build our society and our civilization on, homosexuality is the downfall of many, many civilizations (read your history). Any civilization ever become better/greater because they elevated homosexuality? Over 90% of the world population is heterosexual which means those that claim to be homosexual are an abnormality, it is not in the best interest of civilization to encourage or promote abnomality. Hope it doesn’t pass in Canada, but you seem to want to watch your society to collapse so more power to you.
March 19th, 2005 at 4:08 pm
IHJ- Wow, all those words, such a long comment! And after all that effort, it makes no sense and has no basis in fact.
Read my history? Did you even finish high school?
But thanks for stopping by.
March 19th, 2005 at 4:32 pm
I feel the need to paraphrase IHJ:
I guess IHJ wants to ban blogging too, or at least stop bloggers from marrying. What other minorities are being declared abnormal by IHJ? Here are a few:
Jews (around 1%)
Atheists (4%)
American people (5%)
March 20th, 2005 at 1:18 pm
Jen,
Don’t listen to the ignorant thinkers.
I think your letter to your MPP was awesome! I have never been more proud as a Canadian when
the Prime Minister read the first readings of Bill C-38.
I too hope this bill is passed.
Human Rights over religious beliefs.
Cheers,
Steve
March 20th, 2005 at 4:04 pm
I like your blog enough to add you to my blogroll (Feel free but not obligated to return the favor). Thanks for putting it out there and thanks for being an active participant in democracy!
March 20th, 2005 at 4:27 pm
Oh Lambic, Americans as an abnormality… I like that.
In IHJ’s words, “it is not in the best interest of civilization to
encourage or promote abnomality.”
So IHJ, you are saying that Americanism should not be promoted.
Maybe you should write a letter to your congressman?
March 20th, 2005 at 4:43 pm
hey came on over via blog explosion!
your little image about not using jesus as an excuse caught my eye.
SO TRUE!
Great blog
marsieeeeeeeeeeeeee
March 22nd, 2005 at 10:52 am
I’m all for an anti-same sex bill. Nobody should have to suffer through the same old sex night after night. If it takes legislation to get some people to ‘mix it up’ a bit and try new, different positions, then I say ‘Let’s do it!” Who wants to be bored?
March 22nd, 2005 at 11:08 am
a-[e] - Absolutely! We definitely need more government involvement in what used to be private matters, bring it on!
lol
March 22nd, 2005 at 1:23 pm
Yeah we do. I call the government for most of my decisions. Why, just this morning I emailed DeLay and other Republicans to see if it was wise to take some headache medicine. I can’t decide if I need one pill or two. I’m hoping they’ll pass a bill sometime this afternoon to refer the matter to a federal judge.
March 22nd, 2005 at 4:54 pm
“I think your letter to your MPP was awesome! I have never been more proud as a Canadian when
the Prime Minister read the first readings of Bill C-38.”
Wow, glad to see that your patriotism runs so deep.
As for the author: Did you know that homosexuality is not included in section 15 of the Charter, and that the framers never intended for it to be there? As an apparent legalist, I’m sure this new bit of information will immediately sway you against gay marriage.
March 23rd, 2005 at 12:32 am
Fantastic letter. I’m also a straight woman (in a common law relationship) who was disappointed and angry to find out that my local MP (Pierre Poilievre) does not support the Bill. I’ve sent a letter to him, donated to Canadians for Equal Marriage, and tried to encourage others to do the same. It’s shocking to me that this is so controversial - it’s a matter of human rights! Since when are human rights a matter for debate?
March 23rd, 2005 at 8:49 am
Peter,
Actually, subsequent court challenges have resulted in a direction from the Supreme Court that sexual orientation must be “read into” the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
March 24th, 2005 at 12:03 pm
Go Jen, go Jen, go Jen!!!!
Homophobia is soooo gay!
March 28th, 2005 at 3:45 pm
Marriage is the best way to take your hands off the reins of a relationship. It’s the best way to take somebody for granted from one moment on.
If the heterosexuals want to jealously guard their divorce rates, ph***in’ let ‘em. Maybe gay people could live up to the stereotype that they’re more intelligent on average and swear off this marital stupidity. But noooo. Gays wanna join the club and be regarded Equally. Sorry, gays. You’re not equal. Nobody is equal in anything except one thing: individuality. There is no way to objectively gauge the worth of one human to another.
To the gays: So fight your fight and gain this totally useless prize. Seek approval from others to be happy and keep proving to me that you’re not. Just because you grew up in a particular culture doesn’t mean you have to be a slave to it. If I was gay, I’d totally see through to the benefit of not being allowed to marry - none of my partners should expect it either. But as a hetero male, nearly every female I encounter has had their brain culture-washed to believe that only people who are truly happy are married. What a ph***in’ crock!
And Jen, I make my remarks not to the people who are married, or to those who simply desire marriage for marriage’s sake and because it would be nice. My remarks are directed to those who see the absence of a marital certificate and government recognition to be an obstacle to a happiness that is theirs (and all of ours) alone to determine. Commonlaws get the tax breaks without having to pay when they break up.
Oh hi, I’m Patrick.
Sometimes I meow out-loud.
I’m happy cos I choose to be
not because I’m “allowed”
March 31st, 2005 at 8:08 am
Patrick, I couldn’t have said it better myself.
April 10th, 2005 at 6:42 pm
I think that this bill ridiculous. As a catholic i respect the Bible and what is says. And it says that marriage is ONLY Man and Woman!!!!!!!! God created Adam and Eve not Adam and Steve! Paul Martin’s Bill C-38 threatens human rights and religious freedom, our culture and the future of Canada itself! In statistics Canada it says that 66% of all canadians want to keep marriage the way it is; between a man and a woman. Every major world religion and culture approves the traditional way of marriage. According to the Supreme Court of Canada, the Liberal government has no power to protect these religious freedoms if they redefine marriage. If Paul Martin will not respect the religious freedoms and closest friends and allies, then what hope to ordinary Canadians have of seeing their rights protected?
April 12th, 2005 at 1:23 pm
I just want to say kudos for having the “balls” to send a letter to your MP…to the person who stated earlier on in the responses about history facts showing how homosexuality was the downfall of many civilizations I want to thank you for showing how effectively you can regurgitate information found on a random anti-same sex union website, you can go right on back there and see that there are actually no examples given….huh….isn’t that odd…I mean, I didn’t know that homosexuality was more destructive than famine, disease (perpeptuated by ignorance), and warfare (fuelled on mainly by religious differences…yeah has everyone forgotten about the crusades?). To Mike I want to thank you for not having any originality and once again perpetuating that stupid (for lack of a better term)phrase. It is my wish that they actually look back and go…”oh….wait, it IS Adam and Steve”. Marriage is not inclusive to religion, it was made so because when Europeans invaded many of the “heathen” lands they installed a church so marriages could take place effectively wiping out a system of union that had already been in place for thousands of years. I do want to also comment on the person who commented that marriage is not about love, because you are right…it’s basis is in the church sanctification of women being sold essentially for land or other things like power. About religious freedoms…the churchs are still given full freedoms that they originally had, it is now that unlike previous years their agenda can not be forced down the throats of all Canadians. If a church does not want to perform a marriage ceremony there is no obligation for them to, it is even enshrined in the Bill itself. I would be more worried if I was you Mike about the fact that you believe that equal rights are based on consensus…I believe it was people who had the same ideas that were in charge of trying to keep slavery in this world, because the majority believed in it and that makes it right, right?
April 12th, 2005 at 9:40 pm
Wow Mike, being a catholic myself I can’t believe what I’ve actually just read. The bible also states a lot of other useless things in Leviticus. So how much do we think we could get for your daughter if we sell her into slavery? O do you cut your hair, well I guess that’s an abomination as well? O I just remembered, do you eat shell fish? Doesn’t leviticus also state that that’s an abomination to God? Everyone watch out that wears a cotton/polyester blend! Get with the times, society is progressing. And where is the source where you gathered your polls? According to Ctv “The consensus in Canada is narrowly in favour of allowing same-sex couples to marry civilly.
There are about 3,000 same-sex married couples in Canada.
Gay marriage is legal in seven provinces and one territory after court decisions found the traditional definition violated the rights of gays and lesbians to equality under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
An Environics poll released Tuesday suggested that 76 per cent of Canadians say it was time for Parliament to settle the issue.”
Also relating back to the bible, the word “homosexual” does not exist in the Greek or Hebrew language NOR was it invented until the 1800s by a German philosopher, meaning being predisposed to the same sex. Jesus also did not state ANYTHING in the new testament relating to “a man with a man.” Anyways, I’m done venting, must go study for an exam I have!
P.S. Awesome letter, sent one to my MP back home and here in Ottawa, however my MP back home is a conservative…Go figure eh. *shudders*
April 18th, 2005 at 8:16 pm
Hey Jen,
Was googling for some research on equal marriage and got your blog as a hit. Ignore the wankers, stay on your reasoned, equality-based, diversity-loving path. This queer Canadian appreciates your support very, very much.
April 23rd, 2005 at 3:16 am
Well as a 4th generation Canadian,
I’m personally glad, Church and State are separated. I don’t think I would have appreciated having to say the ‘Lords Prayer’ in school, because I’m not a Christian, nor do I think my Muslim/Hindu/Buddist/Atheist/Jewish brethern would have either.
I think Civil marriaage should be extended to same sex couples. The Government has affirmed that they will not force religious officials to sanctify marriages they don’t agree with. I just as the Religious Conservatives to butt out. This is Civil Marriage not religious marriage, it’s completely up to the State which is bound by the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, not the Bible or any other Religious text.
As well, Same Sex Marriage won’t ruin Marriage and it’s not for procreation purposes only. Heterosexual marriage is doing fine ruining marriage with near 60% divorce rates and a lot of heterosexual couples chose now to not have children.
If you don’t like gay marriage, don’t marry a gay person. It’s only common sense.
April 23rd, 2005 at 3:27 am
Mind me,
I need to let off steam, as an Albertan. I hope that C-38 passes to force this Conservative government to stop being bigots and support all members of society. It’s sad that in such an inclusive state people still expect others to follow ‘their’ religious ideals. I’m a happy non-Christian but you don’t see me trying to have the Atheist’s Prayer or the Atheist’s Bible included in Governmental Rulings.
Can’t this religious conservative get it threw their head that the church and state have been officially separated since Confederation, who are we to question the immense wisdom of the Founding Fathers(and Mothers too;))
I just hope that one day, I can live without fear for loving another human being. Someone once sang, “What the World needs now is Love, sweet Love. It’s the only thing that there is just to little of” Love is such a rare thing in today’s society that we as a society should cherish and nurture it until it grows into a wonderfully beautiful tree full of fruits for society to share in.
April 23rd, 2005 at 10:00 am
Jawn - we are all in this together, unless of course you are not
Bah to the narrow minded, ignorant wankers.
Brodie - exactly!!!!
May 10th, 2005 at 6:31 pm
Ok I just wanted to say great letter, as a bi-sexual Canadian I find it incredible when heterosexuals stand up for our rights. Oh and just a not to Patrick, the reason homosexuals are so determined to legalize same sex marriage isn’t because we want approval but because of the rights that come with marriage. I agree with your basic principals but for the couples that do live together all their lives but then don’t even have the right to inhierit their lovers money and belongings and such it can become a real problem. I don’t know evenything about rights since I’m not big on news or the law but I do know that marriage isn’t just about acceptance, it’s about the basic human rights that are denied to all same sex couples! Jen we need more people like you and most people on hear voicing their opinions, you’re a wonderful person please don’t change
June 28th, 2005 at 7:42 pm
I was searching the net for some of the legal references that the pointed-headed conservatives were bandying about on CPAC today and came upon your blog.
As a heterosexual Canadian, a Bloc supporter and a Unitarian, I just wanted to say that perhaps if the conservatives spent some time actually responding to the question of what makes my heterosexual marriage any more important than that of a gay marriage, perhaps they’d actually be participating in a debate which they obviously can’t with using logic or reality.
In the event that the bill were to fail to pass, the rights to marry of gay couples would already be upheld in 8 provinces and one Territory. So, from where I sit, it seems to me that this bill isn’t about equal rights, gays already have those, it’s about allowing committed married couples the rights and freedoms as heterosexual married couples; and that must include being allowed to call themselves “married” and to have benefit of a civil union; as I do.
Nxyia, might find it incredible, but even as a heterosexual I do understand the reason why this needs to pass. I’d be a little pissed if I were allowed to get married but not allowed the tax benefits and pensions.
Jen, premature congratulations to you and your wife and the other several 1000 gay couples when the bill passes. Your unions will finally have the force of law that mine does. And that is a moment in history that our nation can be proud of.
Love breeds love.
T.
June 28th, 2005 at 8:17 pm
Tina - thanks for the congrats, I accept them in the spirit in which they were given, however, my husband, Mark might be a little confused
June 28th, 2005 at 9:25 pm
Ooops, Jen, my apologies to Mark. I had been reading a lot of “Conservative” blogs before I got to yours. Those things will poison your mind!
Hey, a thought, so noone else ever makes the same error… Maybe Mark could grow a beard?
Btw… Nice to meetcha neighbour.
August 9th, 2005 at 1:02 am
Why are you insisting on insulting the religious of MANY faiths by calling it “gay marriage” why not call it “civil unions”? Something different from marriage, but equally recognized by law?
August 9th, 2005 at 7:52 am
Less than a century ago, this was being said about interracial marriages by an American judge:
“Almighty God created the races white, black, yellow, malay and red, and he placed them on separate continents. And for the interference with his arrangement there would be no cause for such marriages. The fact that he separated the races shows that he did not intend for the races to mix.”
The same kind of language is being used today in the gay marriage debate. If it offends the religious of MANY faiths for a black man to marry a white woman, should they be relegated to “civil unions” also?
If it offends the religious of MANY faiths when I say there is no god, should I be made to shut up?
If it offends the religious of MANY faiths when Christians tell them they are worshipping false idols, should the Christians be forced to keep quiet?
August 9th, 2005 at 8:29 am
I knew there was a reason I married you, xoxox