"Thousands Of Canadian LGBT Marriages Null And Void" or "Fuck You, Stephen Harper"

Seil · 01-13-2012, 12:39 AM

Link

Quote:

Thousands of LGBT couples across the world awoke this morning to learn that they are no longer married.

A Department of Justice lawyer under Prime Minister Stephen Harper�s Conservative Party of Canada government has nullified all same-sex marriages performed in Canada in which the couples� native country does not permit gays and lesbians to marry.

Quote:

The reversal of federal policy is revealed in a document filed in a Toronto test case launched recently by a lesbian couple seeking a divorce. Wed in Toronto in 2005, the couple have been told they cannot divorce because they were never really married � a Department of Justice lawyer says their marriage is not legal in Canada since they could not have lawfully wed in Florida or England, where the two partners reside.

The two women � professionals in the their early 30s � cannot be identified under a court order. But Martha McCarthy, a prominent Toronto lawyer who represents them, said the government�s about-face is astonishing.

�It is scandalous,� she said in an interview. �It is offensive to their dignity and human rights to suggest they weren�t married or that they have something that is a nullity.�

Ms. McCarthy, who played an instrumental role in the fight to legalize same-sex marriage, said Ontario has tried to duck the volatile test case by deferring to the federal government.

�It is appalling and outrageous that two levels of government would be taking this position without ever having raised it before, telling anybody it was an issue or doing anything pro-active about it,� she said. �All the while, they were handing out licences to perform marriages across the country to non-resident people.�

Quote:

There will be lawsuits, time and money will be wasted, oceans of ink and pixels will be spilled, before this issue�the full civil equality of gays and lesbians�winds up before the Supreme Court of Canada. I�m confident that justice will prevail�God bless the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms�but the decision to reopen this issue is going to be one massive distraction for the Canadian government.

Gays and lesbians inside and outside of Canada are going to make sure of it.

Now if you�ll excuse me I need to go wake up my husband and tell him we got divorced last night.

Quote:

Critics of this attack on LGBT people have noted both online and off that if gay marriages are now without legal standing in Canada if the couple�s homeland forbids them, are Middle Eastern women living in Canada now stripped of their rights to vote, drive a car, or even show their hair? Is being gay now punishable by death in Canada if you�re from Uganda? Is blogging or criticizing your government now illegal for Egyptians living in Canada?

We can hardly believe we are reporting this. Expect massive coverage in the coming days.

How would you feel to wake up divorced by a foreign government after years of marriage?

Yes, I know I quoted damn near the whole article there, but that's because it's all terrible.

Seriously, I like Canada. I like nearly everything about Canada. I was watching people talk politics on NPF and thinking "Haha American politicians are asshats!"

Welp.

Amake · 01-13-2012, 12:59 AM

By the power vested in me as a representative of humanity, I hereby declare all LGBT couples in the world are retroactively married as of January 11.

Nikose Tyris · 01-13-2012, 01:00 AM

Came home to this news, after attending a LGBT-focused immigration meeting for married couples.

Sooooo we're fucking crying and stressed out.

Azisien · 01-13-2012, 01:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seil

Seriously, I like Canada. I like nearly everything about Canada. I was watching people talk politics on NPF and thinking "Haha American politicians are asshats!"

Welp.

Conservative Majority + Pretty Much Forced Party Loyalty Voting = A conservative can pass whatever he wants for next 4 years!

Seil · 01-13-2012, 02:23 AM

Probing deeper, this might be an over-reaction:

Quote:

Justice Minister Rob Nicholson said Thursday the federal government is looking at clarifying the law to allow non-resident gays and lesbians married in Canada the right to get divorced here even if their place of origin doesn't recognize them as a married couple.

"I will be looking at options to clarify the law so that marriages performed in Canada can be undone in Canada," Nicholson said in a statement.

The justice minister's announcement came as a political firestorm erupted Thursday after international headlines suggested the Canadian government doesn't legally recognize the marriages of thousands of foreign samesex couples who travelled to Canada to wed because they could not legally do so in their home state or country.

While seeking to reassure Canadians that the government is not reopening the issue of same-sex marriage, statements by Nicholson and by the prime minister did not directly address whether Canada considers marriages in such cases to be legal.

Seil · 01-13-2012, 02:32 PM

Sorry, World.

Archbio · 01-13-2012, 03:38 PM

"Pop!" goes the weasel.

Aerozord · 01-13-2012, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amake

By the power vested in me as a representative of humanity, I hereby declare all LGBT couples in the world are retroactively married as of January 11.

well should clarify ones that want to be married. I mean dont want to go back to the days of forced marriage either :P

Anywho, this shouldn't even be possible. Once married it should be something thats only able to be nullified by divorce or death. It would be equivalent to not only altering the requirements for citizenship, but then removing it from anyone that doesn't meet the new standard.

Amake · 01-14-2012, 12:51 AM

Read the fine print.

01-13-2012, 12:59 AM	#2
Amake Keeper of the new Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: A place without judgment Posts: 4,506	By the power vested in me as a representative of humanity, I hereby declare all LGBT couples in the world are retroactively married as of January 11. __________________ Hope insistent, trust implicit, love inherent, life immersed Last edited by Amake; 01-13-2012 at 01:04 AM. Reason: You know, if they want to be.

01-13-2012, 03:38 PM	#7
Archbio Data is Turned On Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 3,980	"Pop!" goes the weasel. __________________ 6201 Reasons to Support Electoral Reform. Last edited by Archbio; 01-13-2012 at 03:53 PM.

01-14-2012, 12:51 AM	#9
Amake Keeper of the new Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: A place without judgment Posts: 4,506	Read the fine print. __________________ Hope insistent, trust implicit, love inherent, life immersed

01-13-2012, 02:32 PM	#6
Seil Super stressed! Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: British Columbia Posts: 8,081	Sorry, World.