Newsgroup: it.politica.internazionale
Titolo: Canada Parliament approves same sex marriage (Reuters)

E tre, dopo Belgio e Olanda. Alla faccia dei bacchettoni.
Am.
 
Canada Parliament approves same sex marriage
 
 By David Ljunggren  Wed Jun 29, 1:45 AM ET
OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canada's Parliament on Tuesday approved legislation 
to allow same sex marriages across the country, despite fierce 
opposition from conservative politicians and religious groups.
Legislators voted by 158-133 to support the bill, which makes Canada 
only the third country in the world after Belgium and the Netherlands to 
permit gay marriages.
Most Canadian provinces already allow same-sex marriages, and Canada has 
become a popular destination for gay and lesbian couples from countries 
where these unions are banned.
The minority Liberal government said it had to draw up the legislation 
after courts in eight of the country's 10 provinces ruled that a ban 
same-sex marriages was unconstitutional because it violated Canada's 
Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Canada's relaxed stance on gay marriage, and on other social issues, 
stands in contrast to that of the United States, where President Bush 
wants Congress to back a constitutional amendment banning same sex 
marriages.
"We are a nation of minorities and in a nation of minorities, it is 
important that you don't cherry pick rights. A right is a right and that 
is what this vote tonight is all about," Canadian Prime Minister Paul 
Martin said shortly before the vote.
Thousands of gay and lesbian couples have already been wed in Canada. 
Some came up from the United States, although their unions are not 
recognized back home.
Church groups and the main opposition Conservative Party say the law is 
an attack on organized religion, and some have suggested that it could 
lead to the legalization of polygamy.
"(This) is effectively exposing people of faith to persecution and 
prosecution ... I want to make it very clear today that this is the 
beginning of the formal fight against the definition of marriage," said 
Charles McVety, president of the Canada Family Action Coalition.
Opponents say they fear churches and religious officials could be sued 
for refusing to carry out same sex marriages.
In fact, the legislation grants gays and lesbians the right to full 
civil marriages, but makes clear that religious officials would not be 
obliged to marry same-sex couples.
This did not do enough to allay the fears of some Liberal legislators, 
32 of whom voted against the bill.
Martin ordered his cabinet to back the legislation, prompting junior 
minister Joe Comuzzi to resign before the vote so he could vote "no."
The bill still needs to be approved by the Liberal-dominated Senate 
upper chamber, but that is seen as a formality.
Some Liberal lawmakers admit they fear a voter backlash at the next 
federal election, expected early next year. Conservative leader Stephen 
Harper says opposing gay marriage will form a major part of his election 
platform.
But Harper's stance could also be risky. The Liberals won elections in 
2000 and 2004 in part because they portrayed their right-wing rivals as 
extremists who would hack away at civil rights if elected.
Parliament broke for the summer immediately after the vote. Legislators 
will resume work on Sept. 26.

 E tre, dopo Belgio e Olanda. Alla faccia dei bacchettoni.
Trsferisciti con il tuo compagno :)
*LOL*
-Stefano

Perche' mai?
*ROTFL*
-Stefano

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Perche' mai? Mi piacerebbe adottare Casini, quell'orsacchiotto, ma penso 
che non sia disposto andare fuori d'Italia... Sai la carriera...
Am.