(Canadian) Senate passes same-sex legislation

[Newsjock]

http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2005/07/19/same...

Canada has become the fourth country to officially sanction same-sex marriage.

The Senate has voted 47-21 in favour of the Liberal government's controversial Bill C-38.

Three senators abstained.

... The bill will become law when it receives royal assent on Wednesday.

[sonicx]

1. Finally, some good news for the day.

YEAH

[getmeouttahere]

2. Once again, Canada takes one giant step forward....

while on the very same day the US takes several more steps backward.

[wiley]

3. Brilliant

What IS the big deal anyway?

[Maple]

4. And again Harper is on

a losing streak, because Canadians have said they don't wish to revisit the issue. It's done. Let's move on.

Hurrraaaaaay!

[enigmatic]

8. He's dead man walking

Gone within 6 months, if not sooner.....

[Maple]

9. Oh I hope they keep him on

he's a gift.

Especially in his cowboy hat.

[enigmatic]

10. LOL!

Indeed he is, but if the CPC don't want to have less seats than the Bloc by next election, he's toast

[Maple]

11. Oh I'd luv it

if either the NDP or the Bloc...again... became the Official Opposition!

The Tories might finally see the light about moving to the mainstream, and send all their SoCons off to the CHP where they belong.

[AlwaysQuestion]

15. Harper the Harper

Gee, I don't know. Since Harper ain't going anywhere polically, I think he should stay head honcho of the Conservatives. What would be the downside?

[enigmatic]

5. My adopted home

Thank you, Canada

[getmeouttahere]

6. Me too....my adopted home too!!!

Love Vancouver, j'adore Montreal, and everything in between

[sonicx]

7. me too

Go Canada!

[SnowBack]

12. Yippee!

This married Gay guy is once again proud to be Canadian tonight!

[NinetySix]

19. Yep -- another immigrant delighted to live here!

It's quite a transition moving from the blinkered Deep South to an enlightened country like Canada. Thank God there's a place where people live and let live!

I just recently went back to the States for a visit. Man, was I ever glad to get back HOME to Canada again! I'll (hopefully) never live anywhere else.

[Endangered Specie]

13. I swear you canadians are lucky...

*envious*

[livinginphotographs]

14. Canada looks better everyday.

Not that I'm planning to have a gay marriage. But if it ever comes up, I'd like that option.

[Swamp Rat]

16. Oh Canada!

[democracy eh]

17. Yesss!

Oh Canada

[PunkPop]

18. Take that American Taliban!

Canada takes one more step into the future while we're held back by the christian fundamentalist cretins and plain ol' ignorant American bigots.

[NinetySix]

20. I think it's a step the effect of which will even gratify the Fundies.

They SAY they're interested in the problems of modern society in the dissolution of the family unit. If that's truly what they are concerned about, then the effect of this legislation and the social atmosphere of tolerance it will engender will go a long way toward shoring up the family unit.

It was once common practice for some to taunt and intimidate people of African descent. The Civil Rights legislation and judicial decisions of the 1950s and '60s made it first illegal, then socially unacceptable to engage in this kind of anti-social behavior. With legislation to legitimize and codify homosexual relationships, I think the social trend toward universal tolerance (and even acceptance) is equally inevitable, with just the few fringe holdouts, i.e. throwbacks, that we see today in the former example.

The result: a kid figures out he/she is gay while still in school. Societal norms, having shifted, make the child more comfortable in living openly as him/herself. The child grows up without the familial pressures of the past forcing him/her into a heterosexual relationship, and thus does not marry someone of the opposite sex and raise a family in order simply to conform. In the end, a family is NOT broken up due to the mother or father leaving to live a life in his/her natural state, and the divorce rates actually DECLINE. More stable (if less traditional) family units ensue. What could be better, even for a Fundie?

As an aside to those Fundies: if you REALLY think it's possible to "convert" gay people to a heterosexual lifestyle permanently through Our Lord Jesus Christ And His Infinite Mercy, then would you let your daughter marry a "formerly" gay man? Thought not.

[PunkPop]

22. Whoa there. You're making sense.

That and fundamentalism are mutually exclusive.

All they know is that homosexuality = deviance. Their God tells them so right there in the "Good Book" (not really, but they think so).

I agree that society will eventually accept homosexual relationships as normal because that is to society's benefit. But the fundie dinosaurs will fight it every step of the way.

[NinetySix]

23. Of course you're absolutely correct.

I admit to being just a bit disingenuous in my argument. It wrongly assumes that for practical purposes, Fundies are not hypocrites.

Clearly, their concern is not for the stability of the family unit and the concommitant increase in social cohesion, but for what they nebulously define as "traditional" values (e.g., a homogeneity consisting of whatever behaviors they don't find personally offensive).

Even so, if they were really for what they SAY they're for, then the effect of this legislation would certainly conform to their (stated) criteria.



edit:sp

[Bassic]

21. I wonder why they always wait for the senate

to make it official. Not like it can legitemately stop a bill or something.

[ladeuxiemevoiture]

24. Yay, Canada!

[no_to_war_economy]

25. take that Vatican!

Canada truly lives in the 21st century ... cant wait for our special election in Texas Nov 8th

I will fight the losing battle but I will fight

http://soc.lgrl.org /