Canadian PM embraces same-sex marriage
Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin strongly defended same-sex marriage Feb. 16 as Parliament began debate on the bill to legalize it nationwide. Courts already have legalized same-sex marriage in eight of Canada's 13 provinces and territories.
'I rise in support of a Canada in which liberties are safeguarded, rights are protected and the people of this land are treated as equals under the law,' Martin said. 'Our deliberations will be not merely about a piece of legislation or sections of legal text — more deeply, they will be about the kind of nation we are today, and the nation we want to be. This bill protects minority rights. [ As ] public legislators, we are responsible for serving all Canadians and protecting the rights of all Canadians. ... The rights of Canadians who belong to a minority group must always be protected by virtue of their status as citizens, regardless of their numbers. These rights must never be left vulnerable to the impulses of the majority. We embrace freedom and equality in theory, Mr. Speaker. We must also embrace them in fact.
' [ S ] ome have counseled the government to extend to gays and lesbians the right to 'civil union,'' Martin said. 'This would give same-sex couples many of the rights of a wedded couple, but their relationships would not legally be considered marriage. In other words, they would be equal, but not quite as equal as the rest of Canadians. ... ' [ S ] eparate but equal' is not equal.'
The bill is expected to pass this spring. Most Liberal, Bloc Québécois and New Democrat MPs support it, along with a few Conservatives.
Swiss to vote on
partnership law
Swiss voters will have their say on a same-sex partnership law June 5.
The measure passed Parliament in June 2004 but religious conservatives then collected enough signatures to force a nationwide referendum on the law.
It will be the first time an entire nation has voted on same-sex partnerships.
The law extends many marriage rights to registered same-sex couples but withholds rights in the areas of adoption, in vitro fertilization and taking each other's last name, according to the newsletter of the European Region of the International Lesbian and Gay Association.
Czech Republic rejects partnership bill
A same-sex registered-partnership bill failed in the Czech Republic's Parliament Feb. 11 by a single vote.
It was the fourth time a partnership bill was defeated.
Most of the 82 MPs who supported the bill are from the Social Democratic, Communist, Freedom Union and Civic Democratic parties. Most of the 83 no votes came from Christian Democrats.
