5 Minute Action: Same Sex Marriage

Egale Canada and
Canadians for Equal Marriage

October 5, 2004

PRESS RELEASE

THE MARRIAGE REFERENCE:
IT'S ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS AND EQUALITY

The Charter Protects All Canadians

Ottawa--At 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, October 6, the Supreme Court will
hear the historic Reference of the federal government's equal marriage
legislation. In addition to the Attorney General of Canada, there are
an
unprecedented 27 intervenors, including all of the couples and groups
that brought the original equal marriage challenges in Ontario, B.C.
and
Quebec.

"The Marriage Reference is about the Charter," said Alex Munter,
Co-Chair of Canadians for Equal Marriage, an umbrella group fighting
for
passage of the government's equal marriage legislation. "Canadians
overwhelmingly support Charter values like inclusion, human dignity,
mutual respect and freedom from political or social prejudice. The
Marriage Reference is about ensuring that these values apply to all
Canadians."

"We are confident the Supreme Court will confirm what courts across the
country have found," said Laurie Arron, Director of Advocacy of Egale
Canada. "We've got the support of the federal government, 18 judges in
a
row, and groups like the Canadian Human Rights Commission, Canadian Bar
Association, Canadian Civil Liberties Association and many supportive
religious groups. This is the first time at the Supreme Court that the
federal government is arguing in favour of gay and lesbian equality."

"Denying gays and lesbians the right to marry is outdated and wrong
just
like it was wrong not to consider women as persons or to prohibit
inter-racial marriage," said Martha McCarthy, lawyer for the Ontario
and
Quebec couples. "Historical pedigree alone does not make something
right. The Charter aims to protect the traditionally disadvantaged from
discrimination, however deeply ingrained, seemingly natural, or
longstanding."

"The United Church understands both opposite-sex couples and same-sex
couples as sharing the same human dignity," said Anne Squire, former
Moderator of the United Church of Canada. "Marriage is a benchmark by
which Canadian society names the everyday development of love and
intimacy between a couple. Restricting the definition of marriage to
opposite-sex couples questions the capacity of gays and lesbians to
develop love and intimacy, undermining their human dignity and
reinforcing prejudicial attitudes."

"Excluding same-sex couples from civil marriage is discrimination,
plain
and simple," said Cynthia Petersen, lawyer for Egale Canada and 5 B.C.
couples. "In today's society, the only reason to exclude same-sex
couples is to entrench and preserve the exclusive privileged status of
heterosexual conjugal relationships. Same-sex couples in Canada have
been getting married for well over a year. Thousands have done so.
Equal
marriage diminishes no one."

"We see equal marriage as a matter of religious freedom for our
clergy,"
said Elizabeth Bowen, past president of the Canadian Unitarian Council.
"What was once innovative is now regular practice. For us, the choice
is
clear. Our faith calls us to respect all persons. Justice requires this
of us."

"Equal marriage is the only option that advances equality," said Gilles
Marchildon, Executive Director of Egale Canada. "Separate but equal is
unconstitutional. Eliminating everyone's right to civil marriage, in
order to exclude gays and lesbians, is not in keeping with our Canadian
values of openness and inclusion. And the federal government simply
doesn't have the jurisdiction to replace civil marriage with civil
union."
"The Chinese Canadian National Council adds its voice in support of the
interveners advocating for same-sex marriage rights," Kenneth Cheung,
CCNC National Chairperson said today. "We will continue to work in
collaboration with other equality-seeking groups to fight
discrimination
and advance human rights and social justice in Canada. The federal
government should introduce new legislation swiftly since the recent
lower court rulings are clearly in support of including same-sex
marriage."

"We've been together for almost 4 years and married for over a year,"
said Melinda Shaw, who married her partner Nisa Tummon on August 15,
2003. "It means the world to us that we have the same choice to marry
as
opposite-sex couples, and that our relationship is given the respect
and
dignity that it deserves."

A survey released July 1 by the Centre for Research and Information on
Canada and Environics Research found that the number of Canadians
agreeing that gays and lesbians should be allowed to marry has
increased
9%. Currently, 57% agree, the highest level since CRIC first asked the
question two years ago. The number disagreeing currently stands at 38%.
(see New Canada survey at http://www.cric.ca/en_html/index.html)

For More Information:
Alex Munter, Co-Chair, Canadians for Equal Marriage,
613.236.5492 (h), amunter@uottawa.ca
Gilles Marchildon, Executive Director, Egale Canada,
613.864.1133 (c), 613.230.1043 (o), gilles@egale.ca Laurie Arron,
Director of Advocacy, Egale Canada,
416.839.7178 (c), 613.230.1043 (o), laurie@egale.ca Cynthia Petersen,
counsel to Egale Canada and 5 B.C. couples, 416.979.6440,
CynthiaPetersen@sgmlaw.com Joe Arvay, counsel to Egale Canada and 5
B.C.
couples,
250.812.7135 (c), jarvay@arvayfinlay.com Martha McCarthy, counsel to
Ontario and Quebec couples,
416.862.6226 (o), 416.505.1557 (c), Martha@epsteincole.com Anne Squire,
United Church of Canada, former Moderator, 613.521.6478,
asquire@netrover.com Elizabeth Bowen, Canadian Unitarian Council, past
president, 613.236.4504, elizabeth@cuc.ca Mr. Kenneth Cheung, National
Chairperson, Chinese Canadian National Council,
514.909.9639
Melinda Shaw and Nisa Tummon, married August 15, 2003, 613.724.2347,
viscountave@rogers.com

egale-e@lists.egale.ca

Thank You. Very useful