'OZ' - The 'Other' Side of the Rainbow: Urgent Appeal: Equal Marriage is in Danger! / Appel important : le droit égal au mariage est en danger!

Canadians believe "enough is enough"

Canadians for Equal Marriage urgently needs your financial support. There are enough supportive MPs to pass Bill C-38, the Equal Marriage Bill currently before Parliament, but the Bill is still in trouble. Stephen Harper is obstructing the progress of the Bill in the House of Commons. If an election is called before the Bill passes, then it will die. And equal marriage will be sure to be a major election issue. If Stephen Harper wins that election, he has promised to take away lesbian and gay couples' right to marry.

Canadians for Equal Marriage urgently needs your financial support if we are to prepare for an election. We cannot wait for the election to be called that will be too late. We need your help now.

Legal experts from across the country spoke out prior to the vote to reject Harper's claim the equal marriage can be denied to same-sex couples without use of the Notwithstanding Clause of the Charter.

Representing the views of over 130 Canadian law professors, Martha Jackson (constitutional law professor from the University of Ottawa) rejected any legal credibility of Harper's position. "Stephen Harper's motion is based on the disingenuous assertion that Parliament can take away civil marriage from same-sex couples without using the notwithstanding clause"

Canadians believe opposition to bill fuels anti-gay discrimination

VOTE PORTANT SUR LE DROIT ÉGAL AU MARIAGE PRÉVU POUR
LE 19 AVRIL

Les Canadiens et les canadiennes croient que l'opposition au projet de loi devient la force de discrimination anti-gai.

The first do-or-die vote on the equal marriage bill is expected in the House of Commons on April 19.

C'Mon Canada! Show your PRIDE!

The second-reading vote determines whether the bill is approved in principle. If passed, the bill then goes to a legislative committee which will hold public hearings, discuss amendments to the legislation and then return it to the Commons for the final vote there. The same steps must then be repeated in the Senate before the bill becomes law.

A second-reading vote had originally been expected April 12. Instead, there will likely be a vote that day simply on Conservative leader Stephen Harper's unconstitutional proposal for "civil unions". Using procedural tactics, the Conservatives are then triggering a second debate on the issue, delaying the vote by one more week.

Debate resumes in the Commons on Monday. You can watch the debate live on CPAC or read the verbatim transcript at www.equal-marriage.ca.

Canadiens et Canadiennes pour le droit égal au mariage a grand besoin de votre soutien financier. Un nombre suffisant de députés appuient le projet de loi C-38 pour en assurer l'adoption, mais cela n'empêche pas le projet de loi d'être en danger. En effet, Stephen Harper s'emploie à ralentir le processus à la Chambre des communes. Si une élection est déclenchée avant l'adoption du projet de loi, celui-ci mourra au feuilleton, et le droit égal au mariage deviendra sûrement un enjeu électoral majeur. Et si Stephen Harper devient premier ministre, il a promis de révoquer le droit au mariage des gais et des lesbiennes.

Canadiens et Canadiennes pour le droit égal au mariage a grand besoin de votre soutien financier pour se préparer à une élection. Nous ne pouvons attendre le déclenchement de l'élection, car il sera alors trop tard. Nous avons besoin de votre appui maintenant.

Quatre étapes pour assure le droit égal au mariage :
1. ACTION AUX DÉPUTÉS
2. SIGNER NOTRE PÉTITION
3. FAIRE UN DON
4. INFORMER VOS AMIS

Canadians for Equal Marriage Needs Your Help!

Canada is at an historic moment. With your help, Canada could soon become a leader in human rights, internationally by legalising same sex marriage across the country.

Four steps to ensure equal marriage:
1. MP ACTION
2. SIGN THE PETITION
3. DONATE TO CAMPAIGN
4. INVITE YOUR FRIEND

Equality opponents have a deliberate strategy of using their deep pockets to try to drag out the debate as long as possible. They hope the minority Liberal government will fall in the Commons before the legislation is passed. If you have not yet had a chance to contribute to Canadians For Equal Marriage, to help our grassroots campaign to match the efforts of our well-funded adversaries, please go to www.equal-marriage.ca/donate.php right now.

GLBT Rainbow PRIDE Flag

Meanwhile, CTV News reported earlier this month that vigorous opposition to the equal-marriage bill has led many Canadians to conclude that anti-gay discrimination is on the rise.

According to a the Ipsos-Reid survey, conducted for CTV News, 39 per cent of Canadians believe the recent debate has made the situation worse for gays and lesbians.

In contrast, fewer than one in 10 believe the discourse has decreased prejudice.

Comparing the findings from province to province, those living in the Prairies were more likely to believe the debate had increased discrimination. In Saskatchewan and Manitoba, for example, 58 per cent believe discrimination has increased as a result. In Alberta, the figure is 52 per cent.

Quebec is at the other end of the spectrum, with only 28 per cent agreeing that the debate has increased intolerance.