wfn.org | MCC Couple Wins Canadian Same-Sex Marriage Court Victory

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

N E W S   R E L E A S E
 From Metropolitan Community  Churches

For Immediate Release: September 28, 2004

Major Same-Sex Marriage Victory In Canada Won By  Metropolitan Community
Church Couple

-- Nova  Scotia Becomes 6th Province To Grant Same-Sex Marriage Rights
-- MCC's Troy Perry says,  "Thank God For Canada!"

HALIFAX -- Nova  Scotia has became the 6th Canadian province to grant
same-sex marriage rights to  LGBT couples.

Justice M. Heather Robertson of the Supreme Court of Nova  Scotia ruled this
week that the definition of marriage must be "the lawful union	of two
persons
to the exclusion of all others."

Metropolitan Community	Church members Brian Mombourquette and Ross Boutilier
were one of three couples  that filed the lawsuit in Nova Scotia. Both are
active members of Safe Harbour	MCC, where the Rev. Darlene Young is senior
pastor.

Another Safe Harbour  MCC member, Bob Fougere, is Coordinator of Nova Scotia
Rainbow Action Project,  one of the social justice groups that filed the
lawsuit leading to this latest	victory.

"MCC has a long and proud tradition of activism on behalf of  marriage
equality," said the Rev. Dr. Troy D. Perry, Founder and Moderator of  MCC. 
Perry and
his partner, Phillip Ray De Blieck were married in Toronto in  July 2003.
"Today I salute the leaders of Safe Harbour Metropolitan Community  Church
who
won yet another significant legal victory for the LGBT community in  Canada."

Perry performed the first same-sex wedding in the U.S. in 1969	and in 1970
filed the first ever lawsuit seeking U.S. recognition for same-sex 
marriages.
Perry lost that lawsuit, but launched the U.S. movement for same-sex 
marriage
equality. A lawsuit filed by Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto,	under
the leadership of the Rev. Dr. Brent Hawkes, won the right for LGBT  couples
to marry in Ontario in 2003 and launched a nationwide marriage equality
movement across Canada.

This week, Nova Scotia joins the provinces of  Ontario, British Columbia,
Quebec, the Yukon, and Manitoba in granting full  legal recognition to 
same-sex
marriages. Premier John Hamm has announced that he  will abide by the court's
decision. The couples' application was not opposed by  either the federal or
Nova Scotia governments.

"We owe a debt of  gratitude to MCC leaders such as Brian Mombourquette and
Ross Boutilier, Bob  Fougere, Rev. Darlene Young, Rev. Dr. Brent Hawkes, 
and so
many other MCCers who  are joining hands with Canadian social justice groups
to expand freedom and  equality for all Canadians," said MCC's Perry.
"Canada's provinces are setting  an example for states in the U.S., and for 
countries
around the world, to  follow. Everywhere I go, I tell people, 'Thank God for
Canada!'"

Founded  in 1968, MCC congregations offer positive, affirming spirituality to
gays,  lesbians, bisexuals, transgender persons and their friends and
families in 22	countries. More information on the MCC movement is 
available on-line
at _www.MCCchurch.org_ (aoldb://mail/write/www.MCCchurch.org) .

(END)

For Additional Information, Contact:

MCC Communications Department
8704  Santa Monica Boulevard, Second Floor
West Hollywood, CA  90069
Tel.  (310) 360-8640, Ext. 226
E-Mail: UFMCCHQ@aol.com
Website: _www.mccchurch.org_ (aoldb://mail/write/www.mccchurch.org)