Tories Plan Same-Sex Vote

[ohmygoodness]

Gay marriage vote coming, but not this spring: Harper
By SUE BAILEY

OTTAWA (CP) - Conservatives say they'll revisit the tumultuous same-sex marriage issue but no action is expected before the fall.

That has stirred protest among those who want them to drop the matter rather than make gay couples endure months of uncertainty. "We don't want this issue hanging over our heads," said Laurie Arron of Canadians for Equal Marriage.

"Live and let live," he urged Stephen Harper after a news conference Wednesday on Parliament Hill.

The prime minister says he'll keep his campaign pledge to hold a free vote in Parliament on whether to reopen the matter. But Harper has signalled it won't happen before the Commons breaks for summer vacation.

Gay-rights activists want the Conservatives to abandon what Arron called "a wrong-headed and divisive debate."

"Parliament has better things to do than roll back the clock on equality."

Emily Turk and Cynthia Misener want to get married with some idea of their ultimate legal status.

"Planning a wedding is stressful enough without the added stress of uncertainty . . . in the political realm," said Turk.

A wide swath of Conservative supporters eagerly await a chance to restore the traditional definition of marriage between one man and one woman.

Gay weddings were legalized across Canada last summer after court judgments repeatedly declared it unconstitutional to bar them.

Opponents point out that there was never a fully free vote in Parliament on the bill. Liberal cabinet ministers, including some who were deeply conflicted on the issue, were expected to vote in favour.

There are also ongoing concerns over the tendency of religious freedoms to be trumped by equality rights when the two clash.

"If the same-sex couples figure there's uncertainty, there's lots of people in line," said Gwen Landolt of REAL Women of Canada, a family-values lobby group that has vigorously fought same-sex marriage.

"What about the question of clergy? What are their rights? And what are the rights of children?"

Landolt says she doesn't mind if the matter doesn't come up in Parliament before the fall.

"It will allow us to do more work in the background," to build momentum, she said.

There's work to be done to ensure support even among Conservatives, a recent poll suggests.

Environics asked 2,034 Canadians in a phone survey last Jan. 20-22 whether a new Conservative government should bring back same-sex marriage for another vote.

Sixty-six per cent said No, while 30 per cent said Yes, said Keith Neuman of Environics.

Conservative supporters were more in favour but almost evenly split. Forty-nine per cent said the Tories should not have a new vote on gay marriage, while 47 per cent said they should.

Results were decisive among supporters of other parties: 77 per cent were against a new vote, while 20 per cent were in favour.

The Conservatives won a minority mandate from just one-third of voters in the last election.

Fuck you Stephen Harper. Fuck you.

[Grimmlok]

oh for fucks sake.

ITS ALREADY BEEN SAID THAT RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS ARE PROTECTED THAT THAT NO RELIGIOUS INSTITUTION HAS TO MARRY ANYBODY SHOULD THEY NOT WANT TO. Holy fuck!

Rights of children? What right, the right to grow up in a happy loving home with 2 supportive parents who'll teach them tolerance and wisdom? THEY ALREADY HAVE THAT RIGHT.

You cant MAKE your kids gay for gods sake, and even if you could, theoretically HOW DOES IT AFFECT ANYBODY ELSE BUT THAT KID?

It doesnt'

FUCK OFF AND LEAVE US ALONE!

I hope he tries this, and I hope the Liberals and NDP and Bloc throw out a non-confidence vote and toss his fucktarded fundie right-wing christian theocratic ass to the fucking wolves.

THIS IS WHY I FUCKING HATE FUNDIE CHRISTIANS. GOT IT? EXHIBIT A. RIGHT HERE.

Now I have to go dig out the fucking protest signs, and lace up my combat boots, shave the head and pull on the bomber jacket cuz my ass is going to be out there protesting and screaming bloody murder if he fucking tries this.