Canada is fourth to legalize gay marriage. Canada is the fourth country to have legalized gay marriage thanks to its 2005 Civil Marriage Act 💑 🇨🇦 …
Before 2005 same-sex couples could not legally marry in Canada 🇨🇦. In 2003 however the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that Canada’s marriage laws were unconstitutional and needed to become amended to include them 💑 🇨🇦. This decision is widely seen as a landmark decision since it marked the first time ever that a court recognized same-sex marriages as valid within our borders ️.
The Civil Marriage Act was introduced in Parliament in November 2003 💑. After passing both Houses of Parliament and receiving Royal Assent on July 20 2005 it became law in Canada and was officially implemented on July 20 2005 🏘️ 🇨🇦 🔛.
In order to ensure that all provinces and territories would comply with the Civil Marriage Act the Government of Canada passed several companion pieces of legislation that gave provincial governments the authority to refuse to register same-sex marriages 💑 🇨🇦.
The first same-sex marriages in Canada took place in Ontario on June 10 2003 🔛 🇨🇦. On July 20 2005 same-sex marriages became legal in all of Canada’s provinces and territories when the Civil Marriage Act came into effect 💑 🔛. Since then over 60,000 same-sex couples have legally married in Canada 🇨🇦.
The Civil Marriage Act changed the definition of marriage in Canada replacing the traditional definition of “the union of one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others” with the definition of “the lawful union of two persons to the exclusion of all others 💑 👩 👨 1️⃣ 🇨🇦 2️⃣. ” This change was made in order to ensure that that same-sex couples had the same rights and responsibilities as opposite-sex couples .
The Civil Marriage Act likewise changed the Canadian Human Rights Act to clearly restrict discrimination on the basis of sexual preference 💑 🍁 🔛. This amendment was required as it supplied additional defense to same-sex couples who desired to wed in Canada 🇨🇦.
Moreover a many provincial and territorial governments have passed legislation that allows same-sex couples to adopt children ️. This was an important step forward as it provided children in need of families with more options .
For the LGBT+ community and those who support it the legalization of same-sex unions in Canada was a significant turning point in the struggle for equality and human rights.
Same-sex marriage has been legal in Canada for over 15 years now and it has allowed thousands of same-sex couples to enjoy the same rights and responsibilities as opposite-sex couples 💑 🇨🇦. It offers also helped to reduce discrimination against LGBT+ people in Canada 🇨🇦.
The fight for equality and human rights is far from over, but the legalization of same-sex marriage in Canada is certainly a major victory for the LGBT+ community 💑 ️ 🇨🇦. It is a reminder that all Canadians should be treated equally regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity ️. !! .
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