Rogers Media uses cookies for personalization, to customize its online advertisements, and for other purposes. Learn more or change your cookie preferences. Rogers Media supports the Digital Advertising Alliance principles. By continuing to use our service, you agree to our use of cookies.
We use cookies (why?) You can change cookie preferences. Continued site use signifies consent.
Michael and Michael celebrate 10 years of legalized same-sex marriage in Canada - Macleans.ca
Happy anniversary Michael and Michael! Michael Stark and Michael Leshner were the first same-sex couple to be married in Canada, 10 years ago today.
The two married in a civil ceremony in Toronto on June 10, 2003 after the Ontario Court of Appeal upheld a ruling from a lower court that found the previous marriage law to be unconstitutional.
Two years later, changes to Canada’s federal marriage law removed the gender provision, legalizing same-sex marriage across the country.
“It still brings a tear to my eye. It was such an emotional event for us, Heather, because it was never something we thought we would be able to do,” Stark told CBC News.
Leshner, who was working as a lawyer at the time the couple wed, told The Canadian Press that the decision gave gay and lesbian couples full equality. “The marriage case drove the stake through the heart of legalized homophobia,” he said.
There are now 14 countries in the world that permit same-sex marriage. France is the latest to join the group, after passing a controversial bill in April, which affords same-sex couples the same rights as straight couples.