They won't stop at Marriage

They won't stop at Marriage

First Marriage, then what?

"That this house call on the government to introduce legislation to restore the traditional definition of marriage without affecting civil unions, and while respecting existing same sex marriages."

Those words come out of Parliament, the House of Commons, not just any Parliament but from ours here in Canada.

The action contemplated by our government would be a betrayal of trust with Canadians, it clearly says your rights to Equal Marriage are subject to continual threats.

“The grievance of those who support the traditional definition of marriage is the previous two governments have whipped their cabinet, which means the vote in the House has been something less than entirely free,” John McKay, Liberal MP told Lifesite News.

The real greivance of the social conservative religious movement is that they lost last time out. Now they are seeking to pressure Members of Parliament to undo the law. If they succeed here the Government's bill will require the use of the Charter of Rights "Notwithstanding Clause". It will not stand up to a court challenge as Appeal Courts across Canada have all ruled in favour of equal marriage. Over 12,000 people have been married since the Ontario court recognized that Canadian marriage law discriminated against same-sex couples.

Lets suppose that the Conservatives manage to change the law and invoke the "Notwithstanding Clause" this time or after an election when they have either a larger minority or majority government. What will stop the social conservatiuves from seeking change to other laws protecting gays, lesbians, bisexual and trans (GLBT) Canadians? Would adoption, immigration, education or housing and or employment protection be on the agenda.

These people, the Christian right and social conservatives, are not happy with the idea of same-sex couples having any rights equal to marriage let alone access to marriage. Many would forbid GLBT persons from teaching or child care, no involvement in youth sports or boy scouts or girl guides.

Some of you may think it wouldn't happen. It can happen. Once the "Notwithstanding Clause" is utilised, it will be easier to justify its use again. The Conservative government led by Stephen Harper may be saying thats it, no more changes after this one, but will they be able to enforce that. The pressure on the Conservative party within its own membership made up increasingly more with social conservitives and members of the religious right have an agenda of their own. return to the days when queers were harrassed and stuck in closets if they knew what was goof for them.

The Canadian public I hope will fight back against these kinds of measures and would likely rise up if the Conservatives use the "Notwithstanding Clause". The GLBT communities need to to ask, "Do you want to leave it to the generosity and good will of the Canadian public or take some control of the matter?"

As stated in an earlier post, its vital we understand that rights are only as good as the next election. We need to be sure the people that run in the next election support our rights. Anything less plays into the hands of the social conservatives. They are already rallying for the next election, to defeat Conservatives and Liberals, in nomination battles, that support GLBT rights, to run candidates that support repealing equal marriage and other rights held today by our communities.