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letter to The Scarborough Mirror published 2005/05/25

re. Civil rights are already given to same-sex couples: reader

I agree with Fil Freitas on one thing. We should move the same-sex marriage debate from one based on emotion to one based on fact. Ironically Freitas does not do that. In fact Freitas' letter is a stream of misleading statements and half-truths or worse.

For starters, prior to the granting of marriage rights to same-sex couples, they had only the rights of common-law couples. The courts have identified time and time again that common-law relationships do not have the full status of marriages.

Yes, children can thrive in traditional marriages, but they can also thrive in other environments. In fact, the number and sex of the caregivers has little to do with the quality of upbringing.

Allowing marriage to same-sex couples does not grant approval for their sexual practices. Trudeau said four decades ago that the state has no business in the Nation's bedrooms. Our laws have allowed consenting adults to engage in the sexual practices of their choice since then.

Freitas then argues we should ignore the rights of non-straight children (and yes, children do have sexual orientation) to receive health education pertinent to them.

Freitas is right that we should get the facts. For example, one fact is that no member of the clergy has ever been required to perform a marriage they objected to. For example, Roman Catholic priests have never been required to marry divorced people. This is guaranteed by our Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The state does not interfere in the practice of a religion.

The Liberal cabinet is required to vote for the same-sex because this is a government bill. Cabinet is always required to vote for its own legislation.

Finally, Bill 171 was approved by all three Ontario parties. It wasn't "snuck through". However, it was little more than a housekeeping bill. Recorded votes on housekeeping legislation are rare.

Same-sex marriages have been legal in Ontario since our highest court ruled that our laws - notably the Charter of Rights and Freedoms - required them to be legal. Bill 171 didn't change that. It just made our written laws consistent with the Charter. The same is true of the Federal Bill C-38.

Same sex marriage is currently legal in every province except Alberta and New Brunswick. It is legal because our Parliament decided that Canada is a land where discrimination is not allowed. I suggest that Freitas come to grips with this and stop trying to rationalize prejudice.

Gary Dale

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