Canadian Prime Minister Supports Equal Marriage Rights

"I rise today in support of ...the Civil Marriage Act... in support of a Canada in which liberties are safeguarded, rights are protected and the people of this land are treated as equals under the law... The rights of Canadians who belong to a minority group must always be protected by virtue of their status as citizens. These rights must never be left vulnerable to the impulses of the majority. We must always remember that "separate but equal" is not equal... we all are lessened when any one of us is denied a fundamental right... Today, we rightly see discrimination based on sexual orientation as arbitrary, inappropriate and unfair... The people of Canada have worked hard to build a country that opens its doors to include all, a country that respects all, a country that demands equality for all- regardless of their differences." Prime Minister Paul Martin, February 16, 2005