But it wasn't the gardens, the architecture, or the shops that left me shaking with tears in my eyes. It was the fact that I was standing on Canadian soil, where courts in Quebec, British Columbia, and most recently Ontario have ruled that laws excluding same sex marriages are discriminatory. Furthermore, the federal government decided not to appeal the rulings to the Supreme Court, and instead began drafting legislation legalizing same-sex marriages.
In other words, I was standing in a country where people like me can marry their partners.
Those simple words don't even begin to sum up the tide of emotion that overwhelmed me. I was suddenly in a place where the majority of people understand that love between consenting adults is love and deserves certain protections, whether that love occurs between a man and a woman, two men, or two women. I had a quick mental flash of finding Ms. Right and moving back to this beautiful city to get married and to live. It was like I had discovered a magical door that I hadn't even realized I had been looking for.
As most of you know, things are very different in the United States where I live. In no state can two women or two men legally marry. One state-Vermont-has enacted Civil Union laws which allow same sex couples to claim a status similar too, but in no way the same as, that of married couples.
In order to protect each other and their partnership, same sex couples must complete reams of paperwork-durable powers of attorney for medical and financial decision, wills, trusts, etc. If a piece of that paperwork is forgotten, or is incorrect, the results can be disastrous.
