Wayne Besen - Author, Activist, Columnist, Public Speaker

Thursday, January 26, 2006

Canada's newly elected Conservative government has promised to revisit same-sex marriage less than a year after the country became just the third in the world to legalize such unions. But it won't happen soon, and the effort may be hindered by the Conservative Party's narrow victory Monday, which will force compromise among the major parties.

I love Canada. I've visited nine times and even considered moving to Vancouver. But if Stephen Harper rolls back marriage, a massive boycott of the country should be a major priority for American gay activists. Our goal should be to inflict severe economic pain to the point where voters call for his head and throw the bum out of office. I'd be more than happy to lead this fight.

Harper exploits this issue at his own peril.

9 Comments:

No, he won't get rid of same-sex marriage. There will be a free vote in parliament, which he will lose (and I think, deep down, he wants to lose it, so this issue can be put to rest. He just has a right-wing base to appease.)

Please don't boycott our country. =( We haven't done it to you, despite all the stuff Bush has done.
posted by Stephen, at 1/26/2006 3:32 AM

Scubes, we would never boycott your beautiful country. There is no way Harper would overturn same-sex marriage. I don't see the NDP supporting the cons on this issue, do you? If he'd had a mandate, then maybe that might have been a threat to the legislation, but I think marriage equality is safe.

Robert, NYC.
posted by Anonymous, at 1/26/2006 7:45 AM

Oh Scubes, how could anyone boycott the country that gave the world Cowboy Junkies.

Besides, I fear your country much much less than I fear my own.

Trixie Trash
Columbia, SC
posted by Anonymous, at 1/26/2006 9:01 AM

66% of Canadians consider same-sex marriage a done deal. If Harper is smart, he'll let sleeping dogs lie.
Gary (NJ)
ps..of all the developed western nations, why does it seem that ours (the USA) is STILL so dominated by a bunch of fearful ignorant hicks?!
posted by Anonymous, at 1/26/2006 9:22 AM

SSM would have been in danger had Harper won a majority government. In the current situation, there are not enough seats in his favour to repeal the leglislation. Not to say he wouldn't like to repeal it though, he has a frothing at the mouth base to appease and is obligated to allow his so called "free-Vote" AKA move to repeal, but currently, it has little chance of success. I wouldn't be surprised to see the "free-vote" delayed until he can be sure it would win. The country needs to put this issue behind us once and for all, and leave it alone. If he revisits it, it will only serve to divide the country when it is clear that the division will mean the demise of this government (that is not a bad thing though, I want to see it fall, but not until they have made complete fools of themselves).
posted by Anonymous, at 1/26/2006 10:06 AM

A boycott wouldbe essential, because of the audacity of taking away rights from people who already had them. This would be unprecedented.
posted by Wayne Besen, at 1/26/2006 10:44 AM

Harper has said that all pre-existing gay marriages would be respected. All this tells me is that he is willing to abandon his position when it would be too politically impossible to assert it. Gay marriage in Canada isn't going anywhere. Everyone can relax.
posted by Anonymous, at 1/26/2006 10:49 AM

Gary, oddly, the USA is the most religious of all the developed countries with far higher attendance at services than any other. Its abysmally low in Europe and Canada which explains why they're more progressive than us. Even odder is that fact that we're supposed to have separation of church and state, yet religion is an issue in our society and a very divisive one when its allowed to blatantly influence politics, politicians and finally, legislation. We're fast becoming a pariah nation in terms of social progress compared to the rest of the developed world. Embarassing to say the least.

Dartanyon...Canada is safe, I'd strongly advise you to relocate. Nothing is going to happen to marriage equality for gays. I'm considering it myself.

Robert, NYC.
posted by Anonymous, at 1/26/2006 2:08 PM

I love our Good Neigboors to the North as they allowed my partner and I to marry. I would never boycott Canada, even if marriage rights were reversed. Jeff and I have our B.C. marriage lic and they cannot take it away from us.

I don't see Harper getting his way on this issue, his party may have more in Parliment, but they do not have the majority, unlike our shit ass country

Chris from Modesto, Ca
posted by Anonymous, at 1/30/2006 5:35 PM