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"What if we had a separate set of rules for chinese? Or blacks? Or women?"
"Equality means the same rules for everyone. No exceptions."
"We deserve so much better. We don't want a step on the pathway to equality. We've already had too many of those. We want and demand full equality."
"What
RDPs do is brand our relationships as different. You will be adopting
"When Rosa Parks refused to move to the back of the bus, it was not because she thought that the seats were less comfortable back there or because she would take longer to reach her destination. It was because she knew it was wrong. She knew it was an outward and visible symbol of a traditional system of beliefs that characterized her as a second class citizen, in fact, as a lesser human being."
"Are we fighting to be less than who we are or are we fighting to fully express our uniqueness as equal members of this society?"
"RDPs are nothing better than second class status. I wonder if the shoe were on the other foot how that proposition would be welcomed?"
"Why
would anyone bother to respect us, grant us the dignity that all citizens enjoy,
stop attacking us physically and verbally,when even the members of the BC legislature,
under the guise of 'liberalism', do not see us as worthy of full citizenship."
"This choice is freely available to heterosexual people who either can or don't have to marry as they so choose. Until the queer community has this same right, we are not equal."
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Letters regarding Registered Domestic Partnerships For the first time, couples from every group across Canada, involved in the court challenges for equal marriage, joined together to respond to the threat of registered domestic partnerships being introduced in British Columbia. Lorne Mayencourt, MLA in British Columbia, met the with couples involved in the B.C. legal case in mid-November 2001, indicating that RDPs were under consideration. A letter campaign began immediately, with samples found below. Mr. Mayencourt responded Nov. 20, 2001 to barbara findley: Lorne
Mayencourt just called to clarify that the government is NOT intending to introduce
RDP legislation at this point. It is CONSULTING people. This is a LONNNNG process.
For example the legislative agenda for the spring, beginning in February, is ALREADY
FULL. In particular he would expect that the FIRST step would be the community
forum which he proposed to us on Friday evening.
Lorne, I heard a rumour
that Registered Domestic Partnerships are being considered by the provincial government.
I would like you to know that as a gay man I find RDPs insulting. We have not
come this far as a community to accept a "level" of rights that remains
second to the straight majority. I believe instituting RDPs would be a step backwards
for all of us. Justify it as you might, Lorne, you are talking about creating
a separate set of rules for gay people and straight people. What if we had a separate
set of rules for chinese? In this case, give us gay marriage, or give us nothing. Thanks
for your time, Dear Mr. Mayencourt; Dr. Joy Masuhara and I are one of the couples in the BC same-sex marriage case. We were not able to be present at the meeting on Friday night where you met with the petitioners, but thank you for agreeing to speak with us. As well, thank you for walking so prominently in the vigil for Aaron Webster yesterday. It was a moving and poignant event that shows BC how very, very far we have yet to go in eroding discrimination and hatred towards gays and lesbians. One thing that will help, long-term, is certainly same-sex marriage. One thing that will hinder is RDPs--especially here in BC where they offer us utterly no gains. All they would do here is entrench LGBT difference and second-class status. We deserve so much better. We don't want a step on the pathway to equality. We've already had too many of those. We want and demand full equality. Jane
Hamilton and Joy Masuhara
Mr. Mayencourt It is deeply troubling to hear that you are planning to introduce legislation for Registered Domestic Partnerships in British Columbia. RDPs are not a "reasonable compromise" or a "step forward" as is sometimes presented. They are an attempt to try and appear forward thinking while maintaining a social prejudice and furthering the misconception that gay and lesbian relationships are less worthy of the community and social recognition that goes along with full equal marriage. I
joined my life with my spouse Kevin Bourassa in a legal ceremony on January 14,
2001 at the Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto. Our church has recently
been in court, fighting for the registration of our marriage by the Ontario Government.
We have sat and listened to the
Are gays and lesbians supposed to be grateful that they will have second class status? Are we supposed to embrace the opportunity for being singled out as different with the consolation that at least we're not being killed anymore? RDPs are a cop out that lets people who regard themselves as "liberal" sleep at night. They help out your conscience by making you feel enlightened. "We're for equality for all people, but for God's sake don't let them join the country club" Mr. Mayencourt, you have an opportunity to stand up and to use your voice to reject RDPs and promote full equal treatment for all Canadians. Propose instead that your government join its voice with that of the couples across the country that are fighting for equal rights for all Canadians. Take a stand and endorse full equal marriage for same sex couples instead of hanging up a sign that clearly sends gays and lesbians to the back of the bus. Otherwise you will be joining the name of British Columbia with the social models of 1930s Nazi Germany, 1960s Alabama and 1980s South Africa. No separate but equal! Joe
Varnell
I understand that you are considering recommending that BC implement a registered domestic partnership (RDP) regime in your province. It is shocking to see your lack of understanding (surely it is not hypocrisy?) on this issue. On the one hand, you march in protest of the brutal murder of Aaron Webster, an attack based on sexual orientation, and yet you are prepared to recommend a practice similar to the Nuremberg Laws, which would legitimize such brutality in the minds of those who feel that gays and lesbians are less worthy of the rights and protections of our fellow citizens. Shame on you! I am fighting such ignorance and prejudice (and internalized homophobia) in the courts in Ontario with my spouse Joe Varnell, whom I married at the Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto. Your own sense of humanity would be well-served if you bothered to read the material presented at the trial. Douglas Elliott, the lawyer representing our church, reminded the court of the purpose [of] the morally corrupt proposal you are prepared to back, and we are prepared to oppose: "When Rosa Parks refused to move to the back of the bus, it was not because she thought that the seats were less comfortable back there or because she would take longer to reach her destination. It was because she knew it was wrong. She knew it was an outward and visible symbol of a traditional system of beliefs that characterized her as a second class citizen, in fact, as a lesser human being." Sincerely, Kevin
Bourassa Dear Lorne, Please
honour our right as equal citizens to have equal access to marriage in honouring
our love -- not in marking it as anything different Mr. Mayencourt, I am trying to understand how Registered Domestic Partnership would help grant equality for gays and lesbians in Canada. As I was growing up my dream was to marry the person that I love nothing less. It took me many years to come to this stage in my life where I know I belong equally as my siblings and friends. Settling for anything less would put me back several years. Are we fighting to be less than who we are or are we fighting to fully express our uniqueness as equal members of this society? It is time we stand in unison and believe within our hearts that this is right, that we are valued members of this society, that my love is as equally valid and that my commitment to Barbara will be honored and validated the same way that my siblings marriages were honored and validated in front of my family and friends. Or am I missing something? If we propose RDP would we not just be settling for second best? Is that the message we want to send to the world, to Canadians? Are we still prepared to sit at the back of the bus or are we prepared to take a stance and choose where we want to sit? How does equality fit into this? I know that both Barb & I want to live in world that accepts us equally not just tolerates us. As Ghandi once said "We must be the change we want to see happen in the world." Is the change we want to see equality? or am I mistaken? Regards,
Dear Lorne, We
live in the 21st century andI would surely hope that since September 11, that
we have learned was is of utmost importance. We must welcome home all those who
have been disenfranchised and marginalized. We must love and respect all life,
equally. Just ask Nelson Mandela about Apartheid!
Mr. Mayencourt: On behalf of the gay and lesbian community in Montréal, we would like to thank you for your interest in the grave issues that are before our brothers and sisters in British Columbia. Your presence at the commemoration service for Mr Aaron Webster yesterday was noted and widely commented, across Canada and around the world. However, we are writing you today to ask that you rethink your position on the semi-legalisation of civil equality for homosexual couples. What you propose, registered domestic partnership, what we in the community call "equality-lite", is not a social advance for us as you apparently think. Rather, it is a certification that we are, in reality, half-citizens, people that do not merit equal treatement under the law because of our sexual orientation. The
final result of such half-measures in recognising our humanity is to encourage
just the kind of violent hatred that you publicly deplored on Sunday at the service.
Why would anyone bother to respect us, grant us the dignity that all citizens
enjoy, stop attacking us physically and verbally,when even the members of the
BC legislature, under the guise of Thus, we request that you propose to your collegues that we be recognised as full Canadian citizens, that our couples be given the right to civil marriage, with the same protections as any other Canadian couple in love. Very sincerely yours, Michael
Hendricks and René LeBoeuf Dear Lorne Mayencourt, It
has been brought to my attention that you are proposing a Same
Sex Legal Marriages should be a choice for any gay man or lesbian who wants to
legalize and sanctify their relationship by this Act. It does not infringe upon
anyone else in our community, or any other community, who does not agree with
marriages. It constitutes a free choice to live our lives as we wish. This choice
is freely available to heterosexual people who either can or don't have to marry
as they so choose. Until the queer community has this same We are not equal anyway, as you well know. This weekend's horrendous murder is an example of how we are targeted just for being who we are. We have to ensure that we are equal in the eyes of the law in every aspect of our lives, including marriage. It is up to us, and to our politicians, particularly those who are openly gay in cabinet, to work toward making us free and equal people in this society. Without those rights, we have to live our lives less than our neighbours, co-workers, family, straight friends. We have to do with second best (RDP's). This
is not a 6 person campaign. There are many many people in the gay and lesbian
community here and elsewhere in the province who support, who want to see marriage
available to gays and lesbians, EVEN IF THEY DO NOT WISH IT FOR THEMSELVES. I
know this from many Your constituency has had a history of politicians, gays and lesbians working together to establish rights and safety in the queer community. This constituency is looking to it's new MLA, you, to continue this work. We hope you are listening. As one speaker said at yesterday's memorial for Aaron Webster," no more platitudes, we want concrete action NOW." Please listen to those who support you. Work toward legalizing same-sex marriage. Pat
Hogan
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