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July 20, 2005
Canada is fourth country to legalize gay marriage
By ROB GILLIES
Associated Press Writer
TORONTO - Canada legalized gay marriage Wednesday, becoming the world's fourth nation to grant full legal rights to same-sex couples.
Supreme Court Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin signed the legislation making it law, hours after it was approved by the Senate late Tuesday night despite strong opposition from Conservatives and religious leaders.
The bill grants same-sex couples legal rights equal to those in traditional unions between a man and a woman, something already legal in eight of Canada's 10 provinces and in two of its three territories.
The legislation drafted by Prime Minister Paul Martin's minority Liberal Party government easily passed the Senate, which essentially rubber stamps any bill already passed by the House of Commons, which passed it late last month.
The Netherlands, Belgium and Spain are the only other nations that allow gay marriage nationwide.
(Quoted from katu.com)
July 21 2005, 10:48:46 UTC 6 years ago
I'm rather surprised that the scandanavian countries are not on the list when it comes to the legalization of gay marriage.