"Make
no mistake. In our view, this refusal by the Ontario Government to accept our
documents and to register these marriages has no impact on the legal validity
of these marriages .... However, the Church as concluded that it must defend the
integrity of these marriages and of its religious freedom to marry in accordance
with its religious views, and not to permit the religious restrictions of others
to be imposed on it by the Government. The Church will not allow the Government
to make the Church an unwilling party to unlawful discrimination against gay and
lesbian couples. Our instructions are to pursue this action vigorously, if necessary
all the way to the Supreme Court of Canada." Douglas
Elliott,
lawyer
representing the Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto, in a press conference
announcing the beginning of our legal struggle, January
19, 2001 December
3, 2000 Reverend
Hawkes, of the Metropolitan
Community Church of Toronto, announces that the church intends to begin conducting
same-sex marriages in January 2001.
December
7, 2000 Reverend
Hawkes calls. We learn that our friends Anne and Elaine Vautour will be MCCT first
lesbian couple to be issued a marriage license. We're invited to join the planned
double marriage ceremony. It's what we always wanted.
December
10, 2000 First
reading of the banns of marriage. No Objections
December
17, 2000 Second
reading of the banns of marriage. Two objections based on homophobia expressed
through religious dogma.
December
24, 2000 Third
reading of the banns of marriage. Two objections based on homophobia expressed
through religious dogma.
January
9, 2001 Canadian
Prime Minister's Office (PMO)responds
to wedding invitation. "[T]he Prime Minister sends his very best wishes for
a joyful wedding day and for many years of health and happiness together."
January 11, 2001
The Governor General of Canada's planning officer responds
to wedding invitation and conveys to "Mr. Bourassa" and "Mr. Varnell"
her "congratulations and best wishes" for the wedding.
January 13, 2001
Canadian PMO retracts January 9 letter
saying "the legal definition of marriage ... remains 'the union of one man
and one woman to the exclusion of all others.'"
January
14, 2001 We
are married at MCCT, in a double ceremony with Anne and Elaine Vautour.
January 15, 2001
Ontario government announces that it will not recognize the marriages (before
even receiving the legal documents).
January
19, 2001 Press
conference from the law firm of Elliott & Kim (now McGowan
Elliott & Kim) announcing plans to sue the Ontario and Canadian governments
for the right to marriage.
November
5 to 9, 2001
Ontario marriage case heard
July 12, 2002 A
three-justice panel in Ontario
court declares our rights have been violated and gives the government two
years to change legislation to enable the registration of our marriage.
July 16, 2002 The
province of Ontario drops
its opposition to our marriage and calls on the government of Canada to do
the same and get on with implementing the court's recommendations.
July 29, 2002 The
Canadian government (Liberal party) announces that they will continue to fight
equality through an appeal of
the Ontario court ruling.
April
22 - 25, 2003 Our
marriage case is heard by the Court of Appeal for Ontario. Summaries
from the Court of Appeal for Ontario:
June
10, 2003 Our
victory in the Court of Appeal
for Ontario. The common law definition of marriage is changed to include same-sex
couples, effective immediately. Courts order Ontario to register
our marriage, having declared it to be valid, effective January 14, 2001.
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