It’s official: Canada is the promised land.
The "vote is about the Charter of Rights," said Martin. "We're a nation of minorities and in a nation of minorities you don't cherry-pick rights."
The Liberal government of Canada just passed a bill making same-sex marriage legal everywhere in Canada. Everywhere. From what I've heard, the liberals aren't the swiftest governing party in Canadian history, but when it came to essential civil liberties, Paul Martin and his party rose to the challenge with dignity and hono(u)r.
The only cloud on the horizon is that the Conservative Party, which has been suckling diligently at the teat of hate and intolerance that has been proffered by the increasing fascist state immediately south of Canada, is already whining about trying to kill the law if they ever get into power. (It's to Canada's credit that when their bigots start whining about the terrible injustice of having to be decent human beings, they fall out of favor. In the United States, on the other hand, hatred and intolerance are proving to be a sure-fire pathway to political power. This is not a credit to this country.)
But, modulo the bigots, let me say thank you and congratulations to the citizens and government of Canada. I hope that someday soon I will be able to be counted as a citizen of your country.
(wonderful news via My Blahg)