UNDER ONE RAINBOW
Christina Inez Ryan, Calgary Herald Sanford Kome-Pond, 17, Cora Bailey, 17, Emily Johnson, 16, and Chris Michell, 17, stand by a 152-metre gay pride banner they made and hung at the Unitarian Church of Calgary.
Christina Inez Ryan, Calgary Herald Sanford Kome-Pond, 17, Cora Bailey, 17, Emily Johnson, 16, and Chris Michell, 17, stand by a 152-metre gay pride banner they made and hung at the Unitarian Church of Calgary.
One day after thousands of people gathered in Ottawa to protest samesex marriage, a small but vocal group of interfaith Calgarians — including Jews, Protestants and Unitarians — rallied for such nuptials as a human right under God.
Roughly 40 people showed up Sunday for the peaceful rally at the Unitarian Church of Calgary. They echoed a single message for those who oppose Bill C-38: wedding bells should ring for all couples.
Clergy and religious officials from a range of faith groups planned similar rallies in Toronto, Vancouver, Halifax and Ottawa.
“We feel that it’s important at this time, when politicians in Ottawa are looking at this (issue) . . . that we stand up for our rights,” said Rev. Meg Roberts of the Unitarian Church of Calgary.
“Bill C-38, the Civil Marriage Act, upholds the religious freedom of those clergy who do not wish to officiate at samesex marriages. Their lack of support should not take away our right to celebrate the love and commitment of same-sex couples who wish to marry.”
Also at Sunday’s rally was a group of four teenagers who have made a 152-metre gay pridebanner in support of same-sex marriage and diversity.
The teens, members of the Pride Rainbow Project, are striving to make the multicoloured fabric the longest in the world. They said they want to spread the word to Canada’s youth about tolerance.
“A lot of youth are more liberal and accepting,” said project member Sanford Kome-Pond. “All of us are very outspoken about our beliefs, and we figured we had the right to support (this).”
In Ottawa on Saturday, Conservative leader Stephen Harper told a large crowd that 95 of 99 Conservative MPs back the traditional concept of marriage.
“Liberals may talk about minorities,” Harper said. “But undermining the traditional definition of marriage is an assault on the beliefs of all cultural and religious communities who have come to this country.”
MPs are slated to vote Tuesday on a motion by Harper that Parliament refuse to give second reading to the bill.
Bill C-38 is the federal legislation that would extend civil marriage to same-sex couples.
Roughly 30 people showed up Saturday at Olympic Plaza to support Calgary Bishop Fred Henry as he fights two human rights complaints against him for condemning homosexuality and gay marriage.
Local religious leaders, who called themselves the Canadian Religious Coalition for Equal Marriage Rights, said they are sick and tired of being lumped in with other clergy who are opposed to the proposed legislation.
“Every religious community has a whole range of opinions within them. That’s what religious freedom is about,” said the Very Rev. Bill Phipps of the Scarboro United Church.