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It has been days since the Government of Ontario denied us our marriage registration.
"Your
honour, I ask that you speak out to end discrimination and lead us into
a future where all Ontarians may look forward to an equal seat at the
table."
"It
would be wonderful for our children to be able to hold their heads up
high, and to proclaim to the world that their parents are, indeed, a legitimate
couple."
"We
believe that the scales of homophobia are falling from many blind eyes,
and we are finally being recognized as children of God."
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Letters to the Lieutenant Governor of OntarioJuly 19, 2021 Honourable Sir: We applaud the courageous decision of Ontario premier Ernie Eves to not have the Province of Ontario appeal the recent Ontario Superior Court of Justice decision regarding same-sex marriages. While many will find reason to disagree with the decision, those of us who welcome it know that God wishes for all human kind to be loving of all others; in fact, we know in Christian faith that God commands that we love our neighbor as ourselves. Quality of life for most people depends on the love we share with others.& nbsp; Be it a loving relationship between mother and son, brother and sister, or husband and wife, so it can be for two people of the same gender. Their love for each other is the underlying foundation of their relationship, and to have the right to publically and joyously declare that love through the bonds of marriage, is a right of equality that no one should deny. Wherever we read them, all of God's messages are directed to "whosoever" - every person who God has created in God's own image. God, in God's many names, wants all of us to be more than just loving; we are to relate to others with inclusiveness, understanding, compassion and truth; Loving another person is not to be condemmed; we are told to celebrate love; Being inclusive, by joining all together as one, is not dismissed, it is encouraged; We were not created human beings just to be understood, we are to understand others; Even if we are wronged by injustice, we are to be compassionate towards thse who wrong us; When we search for truth in our hearts, in our minds and in our souls, the truth always leads us to do what is right. Marriage - that special covenant between two people is a covenant of love . . . and as God so rightfully tells all who will listen, "the fruit of the holy spirit is love . . . against such, there is no law." We now ask you, as Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, to support equal marriage and our charter rights. We trust that you will use your office to defend equality and end discrimination based on sexual orientation. Regards . . . Michael Winters and
Andy Ng March 8, 2021 Your Honour My warmest congratulations on your recent appointment as Lieutenant Governor of Ontario. Your appointment is a clear indication that we as Ontarians have made significant progress in the treatment of our First Nations peoples, however you have also poignantly reminded us that much work still lies ahead of us. As you noted yesterday:
To that end Your Honour, I am asking you to make a statement in support of the right to full equal marriage for same-sex couples. I was married to my spouse Kevin Bourassa by the Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto last January under the publication of banns in accordance with the laws of this province. The event garnered media attention from around the globe as did the refusal of the Ontario government to register my marriage, which sent a clear message that same-sex relationships are not as worthy as those of heterosexual couples. As you noted yesterday, recalling your own journey towards adulthood:
For many gays and lesbians, the epithets and bullying are still there and the government has refused to remove the stigma that fosters the attitudes of hatred and prejudice. Ontario has taken steps to grant substantive equality to gay and lesbian couples,but their refusal of full marriage perpetuates the myth that our love is unworthy of full inclusion in the social framework. The result is comparable to providing seperate drinking fountains for use by blacks and to hanging up signs that say, "No Irish Need Apply." Same-sex relationships and the tradition of honouring them is not new. Indeed, Canada's First Nations had a long tradition of honouring marriages between 'two-spirited peoples' before the intervention of Europeans. Your honour, I ask that you speak out to end discrimination and lead us into a future where all Ontarians may look forward to an equal seat at the table. Again my congratulations on your appointment and warmest regards Joe
Varnell The reply from Office of the Lieutenant Governor: From: "LT Gov"
<LT.Gov@mbs.gov.on.ca> Dear Mr. Varnell: The Hon. James K. Bartleman, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, has asked me to thank you for your email of 8 March with kind words of congratulations on his Installation and his speech of 7 March. As you will understand, it is not possible for him to make a statement as you have requested as the matter which you raised is presently before the Courts. His Honour has asked me to thank you for writing. Office of the Lieutenant
Governor of Ontario March 9, 2021 Your Honour, First, congratulations on your appointment as the new Lieutenant Governor of Ontario. In your installation speech, you stated: "We must never cease to combat all forms of discrimination and abuse that do remain" As one half of one
of the eight same-sex couples seeking the legal right to marry in Ontario,
I am asking you to please help to end discrimination against gay and lesbian
couples who seek the legal right to be married, and to choose the partner
with whom we wish to spend the rest of our lives. At It would be wonderful for our children to be able to hold their heads up high, and to proclaim to the world that their parents are, indeed, a legitimate couple. Thank you, and all the best in your new role. Sincerely,
March 12, 2021 Your Honour: Please join us in asking the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario to support equal marriage and our charter rights. Ask His Honour to defend equality and end discrimination based on sexual orientation. 365gay.com covereage of our appeal to Lieutenant Governor The
Hon. James K. Bartleman Telephone:
416-325-7780 |
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