For a fifth and final time in the past two years, the House of Commons has voted to affirm equal marriage rights for same-sex couples in Canada.

This is a proud and exciting day to be a Canadian. Just days before the Canada Day holiday, we are affirming once again our world-wide reputation as a country that is open, inclusive and welcoming.

Not only have courts ruled that excluding same-sex families from civil marriage is unconstitutional, but Canada’s elected representatives have clearly and decisively upheld our Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Our Parliamentarians have said that the Canadian thing to do is to protect religious freedom, to ensure that religious marriage is the exclusive purview of faith communities without infringement by the state. Our Parliamentarians have also said that the Canadian thing to do is to end discrimination and to extend full citizenship to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people.

Today we salute the political leaders who have had the courage to stand on principle and defend the Canadian way. You will go down in history as champions of human rights. In particular, we would like to acknowledge Prime Minister Paul Martin, Justice Minister Irwin Cotler, NDP leader Jack Layton, Bloc Québécois leader Gilles Duceppe, former Prime Minister Jean Chrétien and former Justice Minister Martin Cauchon.

We salute those who, over the years, have had the tenacity to challenge their own governments. Those who - as citizens, taxpayers and members of the community - insisted that they deserved equal treatment under the law. The first same-sex couple in Canada to go to city hall for a marriage license did so over 30 years ago. This has been a long and arduous road. For those who have been at the forefront of this struggle long before it was a view shared by the majority, we express profound appreciation. Many took on this battle at considerable personal cost. Many have not lived to see this day.

But the biggest champions are the millions of individual lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people who live their lives on a daily basis with open-ness and honesty. It is the act of simply being that has made today’s victory possible. Because of individuals’ commitment to live their lives matter-of-factly they have demonstrated this reality: lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people are your brothers and sisters, neighbours, friends, co-workers. At the end of the day, no argument in favour of exclusion can withstand what people can see with their own eyes – that it is wrong to treat people they care about in a way that diminishes their personhood.

A word to those who greet this vote with disappointment. Many of those who oppose this law did so because they see a world that is changing rapidly. They worry there may not be a place in this changing world for them or for their beliefs. All of us who supported this legislation have a special responsibility to make clear to our fellow Canadians that we all benefit from the principles that underpin this bill. The genius of Canada, almost unparalleled in the world, is to build a shared identity out of our respect for each other’s differences. No one minority is diminished when another minority is acknowledged.

We call on the Senate of Canada to give speedy passage to this legislation. After all, the Commons have already voted five times to affirm equal marriage. After two-and-a-half years of debate, Canadians want Parliament to finally decide.

In a generation, Canadians will look back on a time when lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people were denied full citizenship, just as we look back on the days when women or Aboriginal people could not vote or times when Canadian citizens were interned because of ethnic origin. We will talk about these days and this battle. We will be proud, as Canadians, that we rejected rejection, that we ended exclusion, that we said to LGBT people: there are no second-class Canadians, all people are full members of the community, without caveat or exceptions. We will long remember this proud day.

I would also like to express our gratitude to GayCalgary.com and the many other community-based media outlets who supported the cause of fairness and equality.

Alex Munter
National Co-Ordinator – Canadians For Equal Marriage
Tues. June 28, 2005 – Ottawa



In Memorium,

Robert M. Julien
March 20th, 1967 to July 8th, 2005
Born: Toronto, Ontario

As a friend I have the honour of writing this tribute in celebration of the life of Rob Julien. It is hard to write in a neutral manner to share his accomplishments when emotions run rampant. He was my roommate and a dear friend, we were known to some as Felix & Oscar (The Odd Couple) as we were as far apart as possible on the spectrum as could be; yet there was still a balance and understanding for each other. I witnessed Rob’s personal journey in learning to accept and come to peace with his HIV, his personal exploration of who he was and his challenges to status quo, and self-expectation. You never questioned his integrity and drive as he always gave from the heart. I cannot express the value of the memories I carry at this time to the insight into a man who was far more complicated than he presented to the world.

Rob moved to Calgary in 1997 and became an integral part of the community in the battle against HIV/AIDS. I came to know Rob through the HIV Peer Support Group, which he joined in the year 2000. As a facilitator at that time for the HIV Peer Support Group, it was apparent to that Rob had something special to teach us and give to the community. Rob was an active member of the group, and in short order he became co-chairman, and then chairman in later years. Rob took on a leading role and the responsibility to the sustainability of the group through training, fund raising, awareness programs and one-on-one support to those both affected and infected with HIV/AIDS.

Also as a member of another group, Positive Action, he pushed the limits to advocacy around integrity and action to improving the lives of those again affected and infected with HIV/AIDS.

Not to be sitting on just these initiatives, Rob was a volunteer at AIDS Calgary Awareness Association to which he facilitated AIDS 101 & 201’s (Speakers Network) at schools, university, colleges and the community at large. Rob was a strong advocate for empowerment and harm reduction programs through education and his own ‘high powered’ face-to-face approach. As a ‘face’ of HIV/AIDS, Rob represented AIDS Calgary in TV, Radio and Newspaper interviews as a person living with this disease. Rob even went on to become the Education Outreach Coordinator at AIDS Calgary in 2004.

His list of involvement to the community goes on and on and to name a few; CCHA (Calgary Coalition on HIV/AIDS) Consumer group, Steering committee for the last 2 symposiums for HIV Positive People in Alberta, ACCH (Alberta Community Council on HIV) HIV representative, Speakers Network, TV and Radio interviews to promote awareness and disseminate discrimination and stigma to HIV/AIDS, recipient of the Roger Leblanc award for Outstanding Achievement on HIV/AIDS work in the Calgary region, member of CATIE (Canadian AIDS Treatment Information Exchange), CTAC (Canadian Treatment Action Council) around access to treatment issues, advocate for the Tipi of Courage, worked with the Tu’sina Nation Elders around HIV/AIDS and many more.

Rob and I worked on many initiatives together and his energy and devotion never ceased to amaze me. No matter how he felt and no matter how much pain he was in, Rob found an inner strength to carry on. He often commented, “…well someone’s gotta do it, why not me…” Rob was always willing to jump in with both feet to help out, he could never say no to helping others. Our last big initiative and by far our most fun was the Straight to Diva fundraiser for HIV Peer Support on April 9, 2005. Some 200 plus hours of organization and Rob’s spirit was still radiating with abundance. He was very proud of the accomplishment and being, again, the front man for HIV Peer Support Group, did interviews on TV and Radio and Magazine articles.

We will all dearly miss you Rob. Words cannot express the value you have given, and what you have become to us all. We are richer in our lives because of you, laughter has filled our hearts because of you and sorrow fills them for the loss of you.

Rest in peace my friend,

Sincerely,
Johnathan Finlayson



God bless Calgary

Over 25 years ago, Rev. Dr. Brent Hawkes sent Norm Collins and Lloyd Greenway from Toronto to Calgary to start a new Metropolitan Community Church. A second Calgary church started later, but both have since closed. So it was left to Rev. Hawkes to return to Calgary July 21 to 26 with Reverend Jo Bell of MCC Toronto, to conduct 31 marriages for American couples attending the MCC world general conference.

And the result? It looks like there is interest in getting an MCC in Calgary again. God sure has a sense of humour.

What a welcome we received in Calgary at our conference.

Over 1200 delegates from 25 countries took over downtown Calgary – and were we ever treated “real nice!” Not a single negative experience was reported to conference organizers during our world-changing visit.

Calgary tourist officials should be very proud of the newest gay honeymoon capital of Canada.

I was often asked by local community leaders why we didn’t publicize our visit in advance. The main reason was security for our families, many with children, seniors and members with illnesses. We were afraid of Calgary’s reputation and we were wrong. I hope, however, we made a difference.

My husband and I want to thank everyone in Calgary. We got to plan a wedding for our old friends Frank Zerilli and Franklin Calvin of Los Angeles, whom we’ve known for 20 years.

We chose the songs for their wedding:

“I am so glad that Jesus loves me.”
“Jesus loves me”
“We shall overcome”
“We’re going to the chapel of love.”

We got to hear Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson of New Hampshire preaching to people who wanted to hear his message and join in solidarity.

We got to walk hand in hand in downtown Calgary and people smiled at us and welcomed us to the city.

We wore stickers from Pride Toronto announcing the word “Married” and people congratulated us. Heck, we’ve been married since February 14, 2004. After 20 years, we’re still on our honeymoon.

We got to gather together with several of the USA couples who’d been married in Calgary. We showed them our Ontario marriage certificate to prove everything was real. Then we all had a message for Mr. Stephen Harper. “Mr. Harper – you can come and take our marriage certificates from our cold deal hands.”

Then we thanked our MCC family for giving us the spiritual love and power to say that.

God bless Calgary.

By Ian Taylor
MCC Media Coordinator, Canada



The Alberta Rockies Gay Rodeo Association (ARGRA) would love to thank all of the many volunteers, retail vendors, association members, rodeo contestants, rodeo officials, our rodeo sponsors, and of course all of the wonderful fans that came out to Symon’s Valley Ranch to make this year’s rodeo, our 12th Anniversary Canadian Rockies International Rodeo, such an incredible success! We survived the rain!

We had visitors from all over Western Canada, the US and Overseas who all helped make this the best rodeo yet. Many thanks to those who traveled far and wide to come to Calgary to help us celebrate and host the best rodeo in the IGRA circuit.

Stay tuned to the website and check out the scores that will be posted shortly in the CRIR section of the site (www.argra.org).

Thanks again, and see you next year in 2006, June 30th to July 2nd!

Greg Holsworth
Director, Public Relations
ARGRA 2005
publicrelations@argra.org
www.argra.org