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IWìTTTìl news
B.C. B ound
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U.S. same-sex couples can now marry in Vancouver by Rex Wockner
reformulation of the common-law definition of
second Canadian province legal
ized full same-sex marriage July 8. marriage to permit same-sex marriages, and an
British Columbia’s Court of
order that the clerk of the city of Toronto issue
Appeal followed in the foot
marriage licenses to the same-sex couples who
had been denied licenses.... The federal gov
steps of Ontario’s Court of
Appeal, which forced legalization of same-
ernment has instructed its counsel not to
appeal either the Ontario Court of Appeal
sex marriage June 10.
decision...or
the decision of this court,
Less than an hour after the new mling, Tom
and...marriages between same-sex couples
Graff and Anthony Porcino were married in
front of Vancouver, British Columbia’s Law
have been taking place in Ontario.
“Any further delay in implementing the
Courts building by United Church minister
remedies [of our May 1 decision! will result in
Tim Stevenson, a gay member of the Vancou
an unequal application of the law as between
ver City Council.
Both provinces’ highest
courts declared the federal
government’s opposite-sex
definition
of marriage
unconstitutional. The fed
eral government has agreed
with that conclusion and is
in the process of formally
legalizing same-sex mar
riage nationwide.
In the meantime, hun
dreds of same-sex couples
already have married in
Ontario and now weddings
have begun in British
Columbia as well. Neither
province has a residency
requirement for marriage.
Foreign same-sex couples can
Anthony Porcino (left) places a ring on the finger of his partner,
buy a marriage license and
Tom Graff, during a wedding ceremony July 8 in Vancouver,
get married the same day.
British Columbia
The British Columbia
Oxirt of Appeal initially struck down the feder Ontario and British Qdumbia, with same-sex
al definition of marriage May 1 but suspended its couples being denied the right to marry in
British Qilumbia until July 12, 2004, while
ruling until July 2004 to give the feds time to
same-sex couples in Ontario may marry as and
rewrite the marriage laws. Subsequently,
when they chexise to do so. The court is satis
Ontario’s Quirt of Appeal struck down the fed
fied that it is appropriate to amend the order in
eral definition of marriage but did not include a
these appeals to lift the suspension of remedies,
grace period. In light of the Ontario ruling, the
with the result that the declaratory relief and
British Columbia court decided to close the gap,
the reformulation of the common-law defini
thereby legalizing same-sex marriage in the
tion of marriage as 'the lawful union of two per
province instantly.
The court stated: “The Ontario Court of sons to the exclusion of all others’ will take
immediate effect. "jm
Appeal...granted immediate relief, including a
G etting H itched
ere are excerpts from the provincial Vital
Statistic Agency’s “how to” on getting
married in British Columbia:
“The Marriage Act requires that you obtain
a marriage license.... The bride or groom must
apply in person to the Marriage License Issuer
in your community. Only one member of the
couple needs to apply for the license, but you
will be asked to provide identification for both
the bride and the groom. Information required
with identification will include: full name,
including given names; birth date and birth
place; marital status [and| current address. A
fee must be paid at the time of application.
“You do not have to be a B.C. resident in order
to be married here, but the license is only valid in
this province. Blood tests are not required under
B.C. legislation. If one or both of the intended
parties was recently divorced (within the last 31
days), proof of divorce must be provided.
‘Couples can choose a religious or civil cere
mony. Either type of ceremony must he witnessed
by two people. Religious ceremonies are per
formed by a religious representative of your
choice, as long as they are registered with the
British Columbia Vital Statistics Agency under
H
the Marriage Act. Civil ceremonies are performed
by marriage commissioners, who are appointed by
the executive director of Vital Statistics. Contact
the marriage commissioner directly to make an
appointment and arrangements.
“The religious representative or marriage
commissioner who performs the wedding cere
mony will also help to complete the necessary
Marriage Registration Form. This form is then
sent within 48 hours of the marriage ceremony
by the religious representative or marriage
commissioner to the Vital Statistics Agency,
where the marriage is registered and a legal
record is kept. At the time of the ceremony,
your religious representative or marriage com
missioner may provide you with a statement of
marriage—this interim document can be used
temporarily to prove that you are married.
After the marriage, and following the receipt
and registration of the Marriage Registration
Form, a permanent Marriage Certificate will be
automatically mailed to the bride and groom
from the Vital Statistics Agency."
To download forms and for additional
details, including how to find a marriage
license issuer and a marriage commissioner,
visit www.vs.gov.bc.ca/marriage/howto.html.
—RW
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