LGBT News Celebrating 10 Years of Marriage Equality in Canada

I'm thinking of moving to Canada, this being one of the reasons.

 

pretty darn cool isnt it? we have a bill before the senate but one of the old guard Progressive Conservative, i believe, senators is blocking it and put ammendments in that gut it and kicked it back to the house effectively killing it.

 

Amazing! Is there anybody in Canada who can give us a couple of instances on how the situation has changed for themselves in their own environment since the introduction of marriage equality? I'm curious because Canada was one of the first countries to introduce it, and now we have an entire generation born during a time when marriage equality exists. I mean you can have all the laws changed but it doesn't necessarily change the situation in people's immediate environments. Is bullying gay kids still an issue in schools? Can people hold their same-sex partner's hand freely on the streets? Any problems with access to housing/health-care? I know a lot of this could be researched by Google but I think it's so much more insightful to hear from people living there.

 

I haven't really noticed anything different where I live. Though I live in a rural town in southwest ontario, people around here tend to listen more to conservative us radio shows than they are about accepting gay or trans people. I think I might be the only trans person in my community. I've never seen an instance of two men/women holding hands or anything affectionate between two people of the same sex, I think it's pretty much a thing that happens behind closed doors still. It's still quite conservative around where I live thanks to what religion did to us(I live on a rez), the people that are trying to reconnect with their cultural roots tend to be more accepting. Since our culture once had gay weddings and accepted trans people, the residential schools messed us up pretty bad.:bang:

 

I haven't been to Canada since they changed the law where you need a passport to get back into the US but I really want to go to Montreal, my mom said I was there as a kid but I want to go as an adult and my friend wants me to go to Toronto with him. Are both cities gay friendly?

 

Crazy to think that same-sex marriage was legal before I even realized I was gay. Yay Canada ride:

 

I got y'all beat. Texas: 12 years since you could actually have consensual, private sex with a person of the same sex.

Oh, wait...

 

Ten years ago, my mate (well, husband, now, as of Dec. 8, 2014 ) used to think of moving to Canada; we both grew up in Michigan, and had thus been there a good number of times. I often wonder what turn our lives might have taken. And ten years ago, we'd been together about 15 years. So it had been a while, even then.

The main problem was that it seemed hard to become a citizen, unless you had a really advanced degree, or were fleeing a war-zone...so that though we did earnestly consider the idea, it never got too far due to the legal issues.

Now, we're married here, but we badly want to move back to Michigan, where we wouldn't be married. Maybe SCOTUS will rule in favor, but I have considered moving back, and living near the border.

I wonder how hard it is, though, to become a citizen? I hate the idea of being married in a state that I like but now wish to leave to go back to my home, so perhaps Canada will be close enough, should Michigan refuse to get its act together, one way, or another.

 

Toronto is extremely gay-friendly, and a great place to visit on it's own. It's not NYC. NYC has everything, but I like Toronto so much better. It's cleaner, friendlier, easier to get around...and I love the black squirrels. As an added benefit, you can get Cuban cigars...legally.

 

I've certainly seen a very different perspective. There was two trans girls that lived near me for sometime and while who knows what people said behind there back I witnessed a lot of people showing no signs of disrespect.

There's a lesbian couple in their early 30's that lives not far from me and two single gay guys and I've seen neighbours chat with them regularly or help with yard work. I also visited an older well established restaurant where a group of lgbt couples (10-16) meet once a month.

There's not a huge night life or anything for lgbt but many individuals here of all ages don't seem to think twice about it.

 

Sounds like you're describing Don Plett, who for the record is no Progressive Conservative, as that implies a certain degree of Red Toryism. He was a supporter, and actively involved in, the Reform/Alliance party, putting him in pretty far right-wing territory. Complete patronage appointment, too.

 

Thanks for sharing the survey, these guys did a pretty amazing job compiling all that information. I wouldn't say it was an eye-opener because I kind of expected the results, but I'm glad they took a closer look at intersectionality and trans-issues (which even in the LGBT community is sometimes overlooked).

It still seems like we're moving at steamroller pace. I don't know if what remains of homophobia is the vestige of a previous era that just won't die out, or something that'll always exist on the basis of Othering.

I came across some resources that actually show a drop in support for same-sex marriage in Canada and Australia - I'm a little hazy with regards to sharing links on this forum so I won't, and instead suggest people to do a search on it just to be sure. If that calls for a mini-crisis, I'm not sure - but since I don't live in Canada, I can't speak on anybody's behalf. It's relieving to say that overall trends are still positive in Canada

 

Terrific!

 

Just to expand the data pool a bit.
We've had SSM for over 14 years now and we still haven't sunk back into the sea.

 

Even before same-sex marriage was legal, I lived in a small, mostly rural community in Southern Ontario and my neighbours were a lesbian couple raising 2 kids. I do not recall a single instance of harrassment towards them from our neighbourhood. (BTW, they'll be married 10 years this year )

My high school had a section of LGBT+ books in the library, out-teachers, every classroom and office was a safe space, and we had a GSA by the time I graduated (2006). I did experience the teeniest bit of bullying in 10th grade, but by the time my (female) friend and I (still very much in the closet) went to prom, no body paid it any mind.

From my experience, it's rare that anyone from like my brother's generation (born mid-70's) down really thinks anything of same sex couples anymore. It's like 'hey, you and your SO are cute! Oh! Popcorn!'.

Also: Yay Canada! Let's get to work on those sex ed and trans* rights bills yes?