Gay marriage now officially legal across Canada

OTTAWA (Reuters) – Canada formally became the fourth
country in the world to legalize gay marriages on Wednesday
after the country’s Senate overwhelmingly approved the
legislation.

Belgium, the Netherlands and Spain already permit same-sex
marriages, and a number of Canadian provinces have been
allowing such legal unions for some time.

The Senate upper chamber — dominated by members from the
governing Liberal party — voted 47-21 late on Tuesday to pass
the law.

The House of Commons had already approved the legislation
despite fierce opposition from conservative politicians and
from religious groups who portrayed it as an attack on
organized religion.

The law came into power on Wednesday when a Supreme Court
judge approved it. That job would normally be done by Governor
General Adrienne Clarkson, who represents Queen Elizabeth,
Canada’s head of state. But Clarkson is recovering after having
had a pacemaker fitted earlier this month.

The Liberal government said it had to draw up the
legislation to allow same-sex marriages across the country
after courts in eight of the 10 provinces ruled that a
heterosexual-only definition of marriage was unconstitutional.

Opponents fear churches and religious officials could be
sued for refusing to carry out same sex marriages.

But while the legislation grants gays and lesbians the
right to full civil marriages, it makes clear that religious
officials would not be obliged to marry same-sex couples.

Some provinces have already become something of a tourist
destination for gay couples from other countries who are
seeking to get married.

Canadian residency requirements are less strict than those
in other countries that allow gay marriage, but the new unions
may not be recognized in the couples’ home countries.