A Toronto Sun article highlights one consequence of Canada’s new laws allowing same-sex marriage that should have been obvious.
Bill Dalrymple, 56, and best friend Bryan Pinn, 65, have decided to take the plunge and try out the new same-sex marriage legislation with a twist — they’re straight men.
“I think it’s a hoot,” Pinn said.
The proposal came last Monday on the patio of a Toronto bar amid shock and laughter from their friends. But the two — both of whom were previously married and both of whom are still looking for a good woman to love — insist that after the humour subsided, a real issue lies at the heart of it all.
“There are significant tax implications that we don’t think the government has thought through,” Pinn said.
Dalrymple has been to see a lawyer already and there are no laws in marriage that define sexual preference.
Precisely – there is no sexual orientation means test for marriage. The issue of same sex marriage has never been one of “equal rights”, but of changing a legal definition. Homosexuals have always been allowed to marry members of the opposite sex (and do so successfully enough to raise families) – and conversely, heterosexuals had been prohibited from marrying others of the same sex, for whatever the reason.
Predictably, there’s a “warning” from Toronto lawyer Bruce Walker, a gay rights activist.
“Generally speaking, marriage should be for love,” he said. “People who don’t marry for love will find themselves in trouble.”
Whatever, Bruce.
Having convinced a majority of Canadian MP’s that the “ability to procreate” isn’t a defining characteristic of “marriage”, tell me – -what’s so damned special about “love”?
Update – Blogosphere’s first known use of the term “platonophobe”.
“We need more such consumer advocates out there identifying such opportunities, opportunities that our hate-filled platonophobic society has previously arbitrarily denied to pairs of people who neither love each other nor happen to engage in sexual intercourse.” – Mike, at London Fog
We have masses here where pets are blessed, so why not have a formal ceremony at the same recognizing the sanctity of the alternative family? The Dalai Martin’s reach is wide and great – one of many loves and mega tax benefits.
I think they should get married and when they find a couple of nice gals, they should just have them join the marriage and make it polygamous. Then everyone shares in the wealth.
It will be interesting to see what will be taught in the schools in the coming years with respect to social studies involving the family.
I wish this had happened years ago because my cat has been missing for over 4 years now and I think I should be entitled to collect on spousal insurance benefits since I think he’s dead.
Aizlynne, was he a vet(eran)? You’d be entitled to survivor benefits then, wouldn’t you? I see great potential here. The Dalai Irwin is a man of great vision when it comes to justice, the law and human/pet rights. Lookin’ good Mr. Cotler.
If I married my laptop, and got mad one day and dropped it 3 stories from my balcony, and smashed it’s face on the concrete. Could I be charged with murder?
Just checking, cause I like my laptop, don’t love it, and am planning on taking out life insurance and maybe enter into marriage, cause it serves my needs. Definitely not a sexual thing, I think I would have to marry a condum for that.
“I want to get a handle on what qualifies as “fixation”.”
Any arbitrary number that I can give you the gears over. 🙂
“That’s as absurd as stating that only pregnant couples should be able to express views on abortion.”
I’d rather leave it to women to decide — they’re the ones carrying around the kids. Perhaps not so absurd.
Sean, pregnancy is the result of male & female activity. For men to absent themselves from the abortion debate is as irresponsible as to absent themselves from the lives of their children. All of society has a stake in children because they grow up to be our nurses and doctors and pharmacists and dentists and grocery clerk etc who serve us in our old age. Feminists have declare men persona non grata in the abortion debate by accusing them of trying to control women’s bodies but that is a silly comment akin to accusing anyone who objects to ssm of ‘homophopia’.
Cate
The happy couple will be registered at Canadian Tire, I’m sure. BTW, does the Canadian law have Gay Divorce worked out?
This is Bill Dalrymple.
My friend of more than 20 years and I (both heterosexual) announced last Saturday in the Toronto Sun that we plan to get married under the new Canadian Same Sex Marriage legislation.
Most everyone wants to know the reason we�re getting married � and as the Toronto Sun pointed out, there are tax benefits for us � but basically we�re getting married because we CAN.
I don�t know much about the history of the Canadian Government�s involvement in legislation of laws regarding marriage, but I would imagine that if I were to delve into that history, I would find that the initial laws were legislated to encourage people to have offspring and create new taxpayers.
With the Same Sex Law now in place, Bryan and I figured that we would open the inevitable �Can of Worms� or �Pandora�s Box� if you like.
I would be concerned about a great number of issues, including immigration into this Country.
Thank you all very much.
Bill
The happy couple will be registered at Canadian Tire, I’m sure. BTW, does the Canadian law have Same-Sex Divorce worked out?