Election
2004 Vote for Equality - Home
> Issues > Equal Marriage
Canadians
for Equal Marriage to respond
to opponents' big bucks campaign
April 28, 2004
Canadians
for Equal Marriage
today launched its "Vote Equality 04" campaign at
press conferences in Ottawa, Toronto, and Vancouver.
"Canadians
for Equal Marriage will urge Canadians to vote for equality and against
discrimination when they cast their ballots in the upcoming federal
election," said Alison Kemper, spokesperson for Canadians for
Equal Marriage (CEM). "Our 'Vote Equality 04' campaign is designed
to draw supportive voters to our website (www.equal-marriage.ca),
which will make it easy for people to get involved in the campaign
of supportive candidates."
"Canadians
are known the world over for our ability to respect and live with
diversity. There are those in Canada who want to import George W.
Bush-like American values around the issue of equal marriage. Our
'Vote Equality 04' campaign is needed in large part to respond to
a planned $1.5 million ad campaign announced by the Canadian arm of
a large American rightwing religious organization," said Mary-Woo
Sims, Co-Chair, CEM .
"Canadians
for Equal Marriage is researching the voting record and public statements
of candidates from all major parties across Canada," said Alex
Munter, Co-Chair, CEM. "We are also distributing a questionnaire
to candidates about their commitment to equal marriage. We've already
rated over 450 candidates and supportive candidates outnumber those
opposed to equal marriage by almost 2:1."
"We
will be announcing a list of priority ridings shortly after the election
call," said Craig Maynard, CEM coordinator in British Columbia.
"Today we announced three key races as examples of what will
be our priorities. It is our priority to support Andy Scott in Fredericton
and Stephen Owen in Vancouver Quadra, and to defeat Dennis Mills in
Toronto Danforth."
"Canadians
for Equal Marriage is a multi-partisan coalition of groups and individuals
working for passage of the government's legislation to permit same-sex
couples access to civil marriage," said Munter. "The strength
of our campaign lies not only in the election tools we've created,
but also in the depth and breadth of our coalition partners. Through
them, we will leverage our campaign to reach millions of Canadians."
"This
struggle for equal marriage engages members of all equality seeking
groups," said Patrick Case, Chair of the Canadian Race Relations
Foundation. "Gays and lesbians are members of all equality seeking
communities. In this sense then, opposing equal marriage is an extreme
form of differential treatment, exercised by some, against members
of their own group. As Canadians, it is time that we open our hearts
and minds to full marriage equality, rather than the second-class
status of separate but equal."
"The
United Church sees same-sex and opposite-sex couples as being equal
in the eyes of God," said Choice Okoro, responsible for Human
Rights and Reconciliation for the United Church. "We believe
that Christian morality and religious principles require that same-sex
couples have access to the same marriage rights as opposite-sex couples.
We have written each of our over 3,000 congregations to ask them to
work together with Canadians for Equal Marriage to make this a reality."
"This
struggle is about breaking down barriers that keep us from participating
fully in Canadian society. It is about fairness, mutual respect and
equality. Same-sex couples have won the right to marry in three provinces
representing over 70% of Canada's population. Parliament must not
take away this right," said Gilles Marchildon, Executive Director
of Egale.
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For more info:
Canadians for Equal Marriage:
Alex Munter, Co-chair, Canadians for Equal Marriage: 613-236-5492
Craig Maynard, Coordinator, Canadians for Equal Marriage B.C., 604-790-8751
Cicely McWilliam, Outreach Coordinator: 416-928-1238
Coalition
Partners of Canadians for Equal Marriage
Egale
Canada:
Gilles Marchildon, Executive Director: 613-230-1043 (o), 613-864-1133
(c)
Laurie Arron, Director of Advocacy: 416-839-7178 (c)
United
Church of Canada
Choice Okoro, Human Rights: 416 231-7680 x 4061
Canadian
Race Relations Foundation
Patrick Case, Chair: 519-824-4120 x 54713
Karen Mock, Executive Director: 416-952-3500
Canadian
Labour Congress
Sue Genge, National Representative, 613-521-3400 x 281
Karen Urchak, National Representative, 613-236-7230 x 7921
Chinese
Canadian National Council
Cynthia Pay, President: 416 531-2411 x 228
Canadian
Psychological Association
Karen Cohen, Associate Executive Director: 613 237-2144 x 44
Canadian
Federation of Students
James Pratt, National Deputy Chairperson: 613 232-7394
Rick Telfer, Ontario Representative: 416 925-3825
Canadians
for Equal Marriage (CEM)
This federal election will determine if equal marriage legislation
is passed & whether a number of
very anti-gay candidates are elected to Parliament. Please visit www.equal-marriage.ca,
and see how easy it is to make a difference in this crucial human
rights battle.
Page
created May 12, 2004
Website
content & design created
by Barbara Anello
unless otherwise noted
