Equality: 10 Years On

From the Globe and Mail:
"10th anniversary of same-sex marriage highlights progress, equality

 Ten years ago, their unprecedented wedding stood for hope, equality and inclusion. A decade later, Michael Leshner and Michael Stark — Canada’s first legally married same-sex couple — believe the battle to have their union recognized by the courts has made it easier for today’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Canadians to feel accepted.  “We were, I think, the last major group that in the public imagination was very discriminated against,” said Leshner. “Once you have marriage you have full equality. That was won that day.” Nicknamed “the Michaels,” the pair’s quick civil ceremony in Toronto came just hours after Ontario’s Court of Appeal pronounced the Canadian law on traditional marriage unconstitutional on June 10, 2003. While Ontario was the first to legally recognize same-sex marriage, many other provinces followed soon after. Two years later, the federal government legalized same-sex marriage countrywide with the gender-neutral Civil Marriage Act.

The significance of gaining equality in the eyes of Canadian law hasn’t been forgotten by those who fought for their right to wed. Robin Roberts — who was among eight couples in British Columbia to win the right to marry a month after the Ontario ruling — was reminded of the importance of her legal battle during a recent conversation with a young stranger."He had not known that there was a time in Canada when same-sex marriage was not legal,” said the 65-year-old Victoria resident.

“I think it’s really significant because it just levels the playing field — if you want to get married you have that option.”

^ It's interesting to see how people involved in the fight to marry 10 years ago are doing today. It seems that the trend to extend marriage equality to homosexuals is expanding to all parts of the world (except Africa, Central Asia, the Middle East,  Russia, etc.) ^

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/10th-anniversary-of-same-sex-marriage-highlights-progress-equality/article12442394/