Calgary marries
same-sex U.S. couples
From calgary.cbc.ca
on the Web, July 27, 2005
Calgary, Alberta -- Wedding
bells have been ringing loud and proud for dozens of gay couples who chose
Calgary to tie the knot.
Since the Canadian government legalized gay marriage in June, 50 marriage
licences have been issued in Alberta, 38 of them in Calgary.
A large number of those were issued to Americans who attended a conference in
Calgary this past week by the Metropolitan Community Church, whose congregation
is predominantly gay.
Two of the church's leaders were granted temporary licences to conduct marriage
ceremonies and they officiated for several members.
Rev. Jo Bell says it was coincidence the conference was held in Calgary shortly
after legislation was passed making same-sex marriage legal.
She says her group was surprisingly well received.
"We understood Calgary to be quite conservative and that we may not be safe as
far as walking to restaurants holding hands... And we have found nothing
but hospitality, all the people who have gone for licenses have been received
graciously."
On Tuesday, Lisa Belongia, of Richmond, Va., married her partner of nine years,
Tina Webb.
Belongia says she is grateful to Canada, but realizes there are people who may
not support the legislation.
"It's always great for us when we're sort of the victors in something like this.
But just to acknowledge that there are people who probably are not for it, but
to thank them for staying in conversation with one another."
The government of Canada says it is not tracking statistics on same sex
marriages, leaving it up to individual provinces.
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