Marriage equality advocates have welcomed a statement from the Canadian Justice Minister, clarifying that Canadian same-sex marriages involving foreigners are valid. (Report here)
The statement comes after a Canadian Government lawyer filed a document in a same-sex divorce case declaring that Canadian marriages involving foreign same-sex couples are not valid unless same-sex marriage is allowed in the partners’ home nation.
Since 2003 hundreds of gay and lesbian Australians have married in Canada because same-sex marriages are not allowed here.
Australian Marriage Equality spokesperson, Rodney Croome, said the statement will end concern among those gay and lesbian Australians who have married in Canada.
“An overseas same-sex marriage is not just symbolic – it confers a legal status that is recognised by an increasing number of Australian employers, federal departments and state governments”, Mr Croome said.
“To throw that legal status into doubt is to throw lives in turmoil.”
“This episode highlights why same-sex couples should be able to marry in Australia rather than being forced to marry overseas.”
The Canadian Justice Minister, Rob Nicholson, told a luncheon in Toronto that the situation has been “completely unfair to those affected”.I
“I want to make it clear that in our government’s view, these marriages are valid”, he said.
Mr Nicholson’s statement came after the Canadian Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, said “we have no intention of opening or re-opening this issue”.
The offending document was filed in a Toronto court case launched by a foreign same-sex couple seeking to end their Canadian marriage.
Visitors to Canada can marry but only residents can divorce, an anomaly the couple is seeking to remove.
Mr Nicholson has indicated he will amend Canada’s Marriage Act to make it clear overseas same-sex marriages are valid and to remove the residency anomaly regarding divorce.
For more information contact Rodney Croome 0409 010 668.