Two Thirds Of Canadians Support Gay Marriage

(Toronto, Ontario) A new poll released Monday shows that an overwhelming majority of Canadians are comfortable with same-sex marriage. 

OVER 10,000 MARRIAGE LICENCES ISSUED - Why won't Mr. Harper move on? The Envirnonics survey commissioned by Canadians for Equal Marriage found that across the country of those with an opinion on gay marriage 64 percent said same-sex couples should have the same right to civil marriage as opposite-sex couples. Only 36 percent disagreed. Support was highest in Quebec where 67 percent supported gay marriage. 

The poll results were almost identical to a survey of Ontario voters released last week. That survey, by Leger for Toronto Life Magazine showed that support for same-sex marriage was at 60 percent. Monday's national poll also showed there is no interest across the country for reopening the marriage debate - something that Prime Minister Stephen Harper has pledged to do in the fall. Environics found that 62 percent of respondents consider the matter settled while only 27% want another vote and 11% did not express an opinion. Even a majority of voters who support Harper's Conservative Party - 52 percent - said they oppose reopening the issue. This month marked the third anniversary of equal marriage in Canada. On June 10, 2003, the first marriage licenses were issued to same-sex couples following the historic Ontario Court of Appeal ruling that day. 

Last year the then Liberal government passed legislation extending same-sex marriage across the country. Since then, over 10,000 same-sex couples have been legally married in Canada. Harper announced earlier this month that he will introduce a motion in the fall asking MPs to take up the marriage issue fulfilling a campaign promise to the party's right of center base, mainly in the west. "These polls confirm what we already knew - that 2/3 of Canadians consider the matter settled and want to move on," said Laurie Arron, National Coordinator of Canadians for Equal Marriage. "While equality for minority groups should never be subject to the tyranny of the majority, it's encouraging that so many Canadians, and so many Conservative voters, are against having another vote."

*by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff
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And its just as bad if not worse in the US... Bush wants marriage reserved for heterosexuals 'We ought to codify that' 

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Bush indicated Wednesday he opposes extending marriage rights to homosexuals, saying he believes marriage "is between a man and a woman." Bush said it is "important for society to welcome each individual," but administration lawyers are looking for some way to legally limit marriage to heterosexuals. "I believe marriage is between a man and a woman, and I think we ought to codify that one way or another," Bush told reporters at a White House news conference. "And we've got lawyers looking at the best way to do that." 

Bush's comments drew praise from conservative groups, but criticism from gay rights advocates. "The president has taken a courageous stand in favor of traditional marriage at a moment in American history when the courts are conspiring with anti-family extremists to undermine our nation's most vital institution," said the Rev. Louis Sheldon, chairman of the Traditional Values Coalition. But a spokeswoman for a gay rights group faulted the president. "We are very disappointed that the president is trying to further codify discrimination into law," said Winnie Stachelberg, political director of the Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest gay rights group.