Quote:Ontario men wed following court ruling
Last Updated Fri, 13 Jun 2003 14:50:14
TORONTO - In a landmark decision, Ontario's highest court Tuesday upheld a lower court decision to legally allow same-sex marriages.

"The existing common law definition of marriage violates the couple's equality rights on the basis of sexual orientation under (the charter)," read the 61-page decision.

The current definition of marriage is invalid and the laws must be changed, said the three judges. The court ordered Toronto city clerks to immediately begin issuing marriage licences.


Michael Stark and Michael Leshner

One of those licences was issued to Michael Leshner and Michael Stark only hours after the ruling. The two men were married in a Toronto ceremony attended by about 50 people.

Both men played a key role in the court case

Earlier, Lesher, a crown attorney said, "When we get married, we will have lit a match that hopefully illuminates the world."

"Today is the death of homophobia in the courtroom as we've known it," said Leshner.

"Absolute faith in Canadian values" helped him through the long court battle, said Leshner, who encouraged other countries to follow Ontario's lead.

Despite favourable reception in other provinces to the ruling, Alberta's premier said his province remained opposed to same-sex marriages.

"The law in Alberta is very clear, notwithstanding how some people might feel about it, it's very clear. It's as clear as crystal," said Ralph Klein.

"If there is any move to sanctify and legalize same-sex marriages, we will use the notwithstanding clause, period. End of story," he said.

Court offers new definition of marriage

The judgment follows a federal challenge to an earlier Ontario Divisional Court ruling. On July 12, 2002, the court ordered Parliament to alter its definition of marriage to include gay men and women.

According to the Divisional Court, the federal definition of marriage as a lawful and voluntary union between "one man and one woman" violated the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Ottawa appealed the ruling, arguing marriage is based on a universal concept of a union between one man and one woman.

But the Court of Appeal issued its own definition of a marriage: "the voluntary union for life of two persons to the exclusion of all others."

Prime Minister Jean Chrétien said federal Justice Minister Martin Cauchon is still studying the decision. Ottawa has the right to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court of Canada.

Members of gay rights advocacy group EGALE called on Ottawa to respect the ruling and not launch an appeal.

The case appeared before the court after several same-sex couples tried to apply for marriage licences from the City of Toronto.

Ontario now joins Quebec and British Columbia, where courts have held that denying same-sex marriages is unconstitutional.

If the court ruling stands, Ontario would be the first jurisdiction in North America to make gay marriage legal. Both Quebec and Vermont allow gay civil unions

Quote:Ottawa to recognize same-sex marriages
Last Updated Wed, 18 Jun 2003 9:23:01

OTTAWA - Ottawa will introduce legislation to make same-sex marriages legal, while at the same time permitting churches and other religious groups to "sanctify marriage as they see it," the prime minister said Tuesday.

Jean Chrétien made the announcement after a day-long cabinet retreat. It means Ottawa will not appeal two provincial court rulings allowing same-sex unions.

"There is an evolution in society," Chrétien said, "but what is important to me is the freedom of the churches."

To pre-empt legal challenges by the provinces, Chrétien says the legislation will be first checked out by the Supreme Court of Canada. The prime minister says the legislation will be drafted within weeks, and MPs will be free to vote their conscience when the bill is introduced.

Courts in British Columbia and Quebec have made rulings in favour of same-sex marriages, but gave Ottawa time to change the law. Ontario's court ordered the definition of marriage to be changed to include gay couples.

Justice Minister Martin Cauchon says the provincial rulings highlighted conflicts between two fundamental freedoms: the right of association and religious rights. Cauchon says the new legislation will allow the two rights to "cohabitate."

Quote:Originally posted by alien space marine
The U.S already denies marriage to those with the same blood type.

Quote:Originally posted by alien space marine
I would like our american freinds to clarify on this, My uncle had to do a blood test before he got married and i read before the U.S doesnt like the unhealthy to breed much same way you try to breed the strongest horse.

I heard if you have the same blood type you would have to be common law weither you had a ceremony or not.

Quote:B.C. ends wait for same-sex marriages
Last Updated Tue, 08 Jul 2003 19:51:02
VANCOUVER - The British Columbia Court of Appeal lifted a ban on same-sex marriages Tuesday, giving couples in the province the right to marry immediately.

The decision alters a ruling that would have made same-sex marriages legal, but not until July 2004.

The court had already agreed that the definition of marriage should be the union of "two persons" rather than of "one man and one woman."

B.C. now joins Ontario in making same-sex marriages legal.

United Church minister Tim Stevenson performed the province's first legal same-sex marriage shortly after the ruling. He says the couple "ran" to get their licence as soon as they heard the news.

Stevenson, a former provincial cabinet minister and the first openly gay person ordained in a mainstream Christian denomination, says he's proud to be a Canadian and a British Columbian.

"We are a country that accepts people and tolerates all kinds of people who are engaged in diversity," said Stevenson.



Written by CBC News Online staff

Quote:The psychiatric, psychological, and social-work professions do not consider homosexual orientation to be a disorder. [48] More than twenty years ago, amicus American Psychiatric Association removed "homosexuality" from its list of mental disorders, stating that "homosexuality per se implies no impairment in judgment, stability, reliability, or general social or vocational capabilities."[49]

Quote:Likewise, research has shown that many people base their opinions about gay people on an entrenched set of negative assumptions.Both gay men and lesbians are often associated with cross-sex characteristics."Additionally, significant numbers of individuals characterize male homosexuals as mentally ill, promiscuous, lonely, insecure, and likely to be child molesters, while lesbians have been described as aggressive and hostile toward men."[76]

Quote:These images represent crude stereotypes. For example, although gay men have been stigmatized with the allegation that they are disproportionately responsible for child sexual abuse,[77] there is no evidence of any positive correlation between homosexual orientation and child molestation.[78] Similarly, despite stereotypes to the contrary, gay men and lesbians often form committed relationships that share principal elements of heterosexual marital relationships,[79] that are based on deep emotional attachments,[80] and that endure for decades.[81]

Quote:Hair is genetic. Skin color.

Quote:Originally posted by A Black Falcon
Hair is genetic. Skin color. Language. Sexual attraction.

Its still genetic if its blond hair or brown.

So why isn't it genetic if its homosexual instead of heterosexual?

Quote:Originally posted by A Black Falcon
Hair is genetic. Skin color. Language. Sexual attraction.

Its still genetic if its blond hair or brown.

So why isn't it genetic if its homosexual instead of heterosexual?

Quote:Originally posted by Weltall
you are not born sexually attracted to either gender.

Quote:Current professional understanding is that the core feelings and attractions that form the basis for adult sexual orientation typically emerge by early adolescence. [36] For some people, adult homosexual orientation is predictable by early childhood. [37] Developmental precursors of adult homosexual orientation, however, have not been consistently identified for the population as a whole. [38]

Quote:A number of researchers have found familial patterns and biological correlates of adult homosexual orientation, suggesting that genetic, congenital, or anatomical factors may contribute to its development.For example, recent studies have indicated a linkage between certain aspects of DNA and sexual orientation.[39] Studies of identical twins have found that "heritabilities were substantial under a wide range of assumptions." [40] Another study, as yet unreplicated, reported differences between heterosexual and gay men in the volume of a cell group in the anterior hypothalamus, a brain structure that is involved in sexual behavior.[41] A study published earlier this year suggests that women who had been exposed to certain prenatal estrogens are more likely to be lesbian or bisexual.[42] Another study has suggested an "interactionist" model, under which "genetic factors can be conceptualized as indirectly influencing the development of sexual orientation." [43]

Quote:The available studies of gay experience indicate that same-sex attractions generally emerge by early or mid-adolescence. [44] "By the time boys and girls reach adolescence, their sexual preference is likely to be already determined, even though they may not yet have become sexually very active."[45] The scientific literature thus strongly indicates that sexual orientation is far from being a voluntary choice.[46]

Quote:I find it very hard to believe that language is genetic?Its somthing you pick up as a infant and brain sucks it in for a year untill your ready to actually use it.Thats why people who were locked away in a room their hole life and rarely spoken too can barely speak themselves. If Language was genetic why would we care about educating children in how to communicate?

Quote:Because you said so yourself with language: The ability to be able to comprehend linguistics is genetic, but not the ability to understand a specific language.

Quote:Just like you are born with the ability to be sexual, and the only thing genetic about it is the physical attribute: Your gender. Just as you aren't born knowing to speak any particular language, you are not born sexually attracted to either gender.

I just don't get how you can admit linguistics is not genetic, but still stubbornly insist sexual preference is. The case for genetics is rather poor and very disproven.

Quote:So maybe for all we know you are suposed to be atracted to both

Quote:
Not the inherent ability to do it! It being genetic doesn't mean humans have the innate ability to speak complex sentences and thoughts. It means we have the POTENTIAL to if taught -- we CAN. Unlike species before which, with no matter how much instruction, can physically only learn so much.

Like Chimpanzees, which can with teaching get to the level of a human 3 year old... but never past it.

Quote:Originally posted by A Black Falcon
[quote]But blond hair or brown is, so it depends on the trait.

Quote:Oh, I admit that the case for genetic homosexuality isn't 100% yet of course. It will be proven eventually. But the case for it not being concious choise is pretty close to that.

Quote:But unlike sexuality or language, hair color is not a behavioral trait or a learned ability.

Quote:Saying it isn't 100% is like saying that not all humans are born with debilitating physical ailments. It's true, but it's more accurate to say that there's basically no proven evidence to support genetics (only one major study even taken, and the evidence was disproven later), and that choice or environmental cause is practically a given... and of course it's more accurate to say that very few people are born with debilitating physical ailments.

Quote:C. The Development Of Sexual Orientation

Current professional understanding is that the core feelings and attractions that form the basis for adult sexual orientation typically emerge by early adolescence. [36] For some people, adult homosexual orientation is predictable by early childhood. [37] Developmental precursors of adult homosexual orientation, however, have not been consistently identified for the population as a whole. [38]

A number of researchers have found familial patterns and biological correlates of adult homosexual orientation, suggesting that genetic, congenital, or anatomical factors may contribute to its development.For example, recent studies have indicated a linkage between certain aspects of DNA and sexual orientation.[39] Studies of identical twins have found that "heritabilities were substantial under a wide range of assumptions." [40] Another study, as yet unreplicated, reported differences between heterosexual and gay men in the volume of a cell group in the anterior hypothalamus, a brain structure that is involved in sexual behavior.[41] A study published earlier this year suggests that women who had been exposed to certain prenatal estrogens are more likely to be lesbian or bisexual.[42] Another study has suggested an "interactionist" model, under which "genetic factors can be conceptualized as indirectly influencing the development of sexual orientation." [43]

The available studies of gay experience indicate that same-sex attractions generally emerge by early or mid-adolescence. [44] "By the time boys and girls reach adolescence, their sexual preference is likely to be already determined, even though they may not yet have become sexually very active."[45] The scientific literature thus strongly indicates that sexual orientation is far from being a voluntary choice.[46]

D. Can Sexual Orientation Be Changed?

The research and clinical experience of amici's members indicates that, once established, sexual orientation is resistant to change.Although there are some reports of therapy leading to changed sexual orientation, there is little evidence that treatment actually changes sexual attractions, as opposed to reducing or eliminating same-sex sexual behavior.Upon reviewing reports on "conversion therapy," one scholar concluded that -- entirely aside from the ethical concerns relating to any such therapy -- there is no reliable evidence that "sexual orientation is amenable to redirection or significant influence from psychological intervention."[47]

Quote:Originally posted by alien space marine
Alot of behavour desorders have some inheriated ties to genes but it is still the main result of the individuals actions and Enviroment that causes how people become who they are as adults and individuals, As they say " no one is born evil", While people can be more agressive by nature the overall right and wrong system is mainly the Influeince of their enviroment.

What was retarded was that years ago it was held that Promiscuousness and Loose conduct was genetic they used to sterilized prostitutes and even their children thinking it would be genetic.Thankfully scientific assumptions are not regarded as fact before proven anymore , So atleast we wont be castrated because are dad and mom are achololics.