President's Message

I confess to having some difficulty understanding the same-sex marriage debate. Maybe it’s because I’m an agnostic secular humanist with a philosophical opposition to marriage (which is always a nice excuse for being single). Maybe it’s because I think for every reason to get married there are three reasons not to. Maybe it’s just because the debate itself doesn’t make any sense.

The organised opposition to the same-sex marriage movement seems to concentrate on the notion that recognizing same-sex marriages will lead to a weakening of the traditional (read: God-sanctioned) definition of marriage and family. Broadly speaking, this tradition dictates that we marry, stay married, and procreate. Same-sex marriages do not conform with this tradition and, some say, denigrates what it means to be married. I know couples that are happily married who remain childless by choice. Should this affect how a religious happily married couple with kids feels about their marriage or how others view their marriage? What about atheists getting married? What if they have kids? These non-traditional marriages don’t seem to have had an effect on how traditionally married couples feel about their marriages, nor should they. The same applies to same-sex marriages.

The Charter of Rights and Freedoms contains a guarantee of equality before and under the law without discrimination. Some argue that same-sex couples are not discriminated against, because they have every right to get married, as long as they choose to marry someone of the opposite sex. Others argue that if same-sex couples want marriage rights, they should enter into civil unions or some other euphemism for “marriage”. Would the suffragettes been satisfied if we allowed men to vote and women to cast ballots? What if people could own property but Aboriginals would pseudo-own property? Women wouldn’t “vote” and Aboriginals wouldn’t “own”, but at least they’d have the same rights. This sure doesn’t sound like “equality” to me.

The Courts have come under attack by effectively legislating by judicial fiat in the area of same-sex marriages (and marijuana use, and abortion and the list goes on). Of course, the Courts are only involved because Parliament has enacted unconstitutional laws or refuses to enact laws that conform with Charter values. Legislators are often reluctant to deal with hot-potato issues and we must rely on the Courts to ensure the Charter rights are there for all of us—not just for straight white men.

The invective used by some opponents to same-sex marriage is frightening. REAL Women of Canada (a self-described “alternative women’s movement”) has labelled the issue “sordid” and allege the proposed Federal legislation was accomplished through “manoeuvering and skullduggery”. REAL Women also accuse judges of partying with same-sex litigants, and warn that an expanded definition of marriage might allow cross-dressers to marry (I don’t have the heart or initiative to break the news to them that cross-dressers are already allowed to marry). The underlying opposition to same-sex marriage is nothing more than discrimination. As a human rights and civil liberties organisation, MARL is adding its voice to calls for REAL equality, which can only be effected by allowing same-sex parties to marry.

MARL contributed to the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights when it made its stop in Steinbach earlier this year. We have also sent letters to Manitoba MPs urging their support on this issue. Because religious rights are also constitutionally protected, we have urged that the legislation make clear that religious groups and organisations would not be required to perform same-sex marriages if they are opposed. MARL would oppose legislation that mandated, for example, the Catholic Church to perform same-sex marriages. Just as government has no place in the bedrooms of the nation, it has no place in the churches of the nation.

This is just one of the issues that MARL is looking at as it celebrates its 25th year. As always, we are a volunteer organisation that depends on the generous financial and volunteer support of its members, and we thank you for that support. If you know people who might be interested in MARL’s work, encourage them to become members and get involved. Please also feel free to contact MARL with your questions, concerns or comments. You can always reach the MARL office at 947-0213 or me at work (988-0346) or at home (452-3865). Happy 25th, and I look forward to seeing you all at our anniversary celebration on November 27th.