The British Columbia Gay Marriage Story

British Columbia gay marriage is a beautiful thing. Manplay.com shares the facts on how BC got to where it is today, and the rocky road it took to get there. One month after Ontario ruled in favour of gay marriage, British Columbia followed suit, and on July 8th, 2003 Antony Porcino and Tom Graff became the first two men to be legally wed in British Columbia. History had been made and Canadian provinces were making history. Although Ontario was the first to lift the ban and make gay marriage legal, BC wasn't far behind. 1969 was the year that homosexuality became legal in Canada, and it took many years before gay couples could take their love to the alter. It's a sad story with a happy ending because gay couples can now wed in peace and know that their equality matters. Even before gay marriage was legal, gay couples could adopt in BC as of November 4th, 1996, making it the first province to allow same-sex adoptions. That was huge for the country, and for gay couples everywhere. Adoption was a huge deal with a relationship dynamic that was changing. Couples wanted to start families, even if their country hadn't yet allowed them to walk down the aisle. It was an unfortunate and fortunate time for the evolving gay community, and the country was slowly amending tired legislation that denied gay couples the same rights as straight couples. Two years before gay marriage was legalized, the BC government turned down legislation to allow same sex couples to wed. Thankfully it only took a couple more years for the government to see the light. Unlike provinces like Alberta, BC has allowed its citizens full access to wed as they please. Not only is gay marriage legal through the federal Civil Marriage Act, it's also legal on a provincial level, and in 2011, The Family Law Act amended The Marriage Act by replacing the words "husband and wife" with "spouses". Finally, couples of every gender are accepted and equal and can wed as they please. It took a long time to get where we are today, but couples now have equal rights, can expand on their family dynamic, and can enjoy the pleasures of marriage without having to fight for their rights to do so. The world has been following suit ever since, and will hopefully catch up in time for future generations to enjoy the same rights.

British Columbia Gay Marriage Statistics

Half of all same-sex marriages occur in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver. Vancouver, BC has one of the highest gay marriage percentages in the country, with over 10%. Although marriage itself is on the decline across the country, gay marriage continues to rise. Thousands of gay couples in BC are thrilled to be able to marry as they please, and can apply for divorce if necessary. After waiting so long for the opportunity to marry though, why would you want to throw it away? Because many gay couples waited years before being considered equal enough to get married, the rate of divorce is extremely low. Gay couples were common-law long enough to know that they wanted to spend the rest of their lives together, as they already were. The issue was in the legalities, and ensuring that legal documents reflected their marital status, and that they had papers to back up their unions. The fact remains that there are options now, where there weren't any before and that's a blessing in itself. Finally, a government that saw the number of people wanting to marry their spouses and allowing them to do so. The number of satisfied gay couples now able to wed has been on the rise since the law changed.

British Columbia Gay Marriage Information

For couples living in BC, or thinking of moving there permanently, it might be good to know where you can find people and places to support your marriage. There is no lack of support when it comes to same-sex unions in BC, and you will always find exactly what you're looking for. Even if you want some more information on how gay marriage in Canada affected British Columbia residents from the past to present day, we've got some information for you here:

BC Residents Reaction To Gay Marriage

B.C. residents react to gay marriage legislation in Canada.

Advice To The U.S. From Canada

Canadians give Americans advice on gay marriage.

From B.C. To The World

What can the world learn from gay marriage across Canada?

The Process Of Gay Marriage In B.C.

Learn helpful gay marriage tips.

Where Should You Get Married In B.C.?

Get some great tips on BC gay marriage hot spots.

The Future Of Gay Marriage In B.C.

Fortunately, BC was one of the first provinces to legalize gay marriage, so they are ahead in the global game. It's been almost 11 years since B.C did its part to ensure that the people living there could wed as they please. It took a while, but the right steps were made towards equality, and now marriage is accessible for all couples. If you've been paying attention, then you know that now is the time to further commit to your partner if your goal was to wed. You no longer have to worry about any downfalls or doubts. You are as free as the next couple to do as you please with your life without any negative stigma attached. It's unfortunate that it took as long as it did for same-sex couples to be recognized and allowed to live their lives the way they want to. The good news is, there was progress and there will continue to be progress when considering all people and the idea of inclusion for everyone. Canada is a place of freedom and the people living in this country should feel free to do as they please, especially when it comes to their love life. Denying a couple to wed based solely on sexual preference was unsettling, but thankfully the world has been since waking up to the fact that the laws need to reflect the ideals of the people. If we are okay with an evolving society, why aren't the laws catching up quicker? It's a valid question, and understandably a hard question to answer. Progress is being made, and we should be concentrating on the fact that we're moving forward, even if we don't quite understand the past.

What Can You Do With British Columbia Gay Marriage?

You can enjoy gay marriage in British Columbia and embrace it. Make sure that you have all of the information you need to ensure that your gay marriage is a success, and that you don't run into any problems if your marriage goes awry. Being a part of a community that embraces gay marriage and gay dating is a beautiful thing. Living in a country that recognizes the equality of gay marriage makes brings happiness and positivity to any member of the gay community. There should be no barriers between gay and straight couples. The only difference is sexual preference, and sexual preference shouldn't hinder any persons ability to love and be married. Marriage is a sacred choice between two people that should be celebrated and enjoyed. When there are too many rules and regulations, it takes away from the experience, and there were many couples who never had the chance to marry as they pleased. Wanting to marry your partner and not being given the chance to was hard on a lot of couples before the law was changed. What you can do now to enjoy BC gay marriage is to not take it for granted. For all of the people that fought for the right to marry, it's now your chance to do so if you please. Don't worry about what was or what could've been and instead, do what you feel is right. If you and your partner choose to get married, know that there's nothing holding you back now, and you can enjoy everything that comes with it.

How To Fully Enjoy B.C. Gay Marriage

Knowing the history of BC gay marriage and how far it's come to where it is today is an important part of the process. When you know the struggle of past gay couples and what it took to get gay marriage to what it is today, you'll only then appreciate all that it entails. It's such an important part of history to be able to marry anyone you want regardless of their sex, and to know that the province and country you're living in is okay with it. There is no longer a need to explain yourself or make others understand why it's important to marry the person you're with, gay or not. Not everyone will agree with your choices, but the important factor to consider is that it is now legal and that you can make the choice. You can also rest assured knowing that you don't have to rush into gay marriage because as of March 18th, 2013 gay couples who have lived together for two years or more are considered common law. A law that used to only apply to heterosexual couples now applies to gay couples as well. The rights in a relationship should be the same for gay or straight couples when you've been with someone long enough to invest in a life together. If anything happened, you would want the same rights as a straight couple, and the laws now reflect that.

It's ludicrous to think that gay couples weren't treated as equals for so much of history when there were millions of gay couples all over the world. Such a taboo topic was never considered before it came to light that lives were being torn apart. Although there are still many countries that ban same-sex marriage and any act of homosexuality, more than half of the world's countries approve. We still have a long way to go before love becomes the most important reason to marry, but we may never see it in our lifetime. The important thing is that we make the choices now that will affect future generations and allow them to marry whomever they choose.

Living in a progressive country like Canada has allowed for that very thing to be done. No longer do we need to worry about the rights of our children if they choose same-sex unions. There might always be some hurdles but for the most part, when it comes to being gay in such a diverse nation, future generations will be more tolerant and accepting. If we continue forward with an understanding and evolving government, the important laws will protect the rights of those who don't conform to the ancient traditional ideals. Times are changing, people are changing and evolving into more of who they are and who they want to be. When a topic such as being gay is no longer an uncomfortable conversation, more singles will admit and embrace their sexuality. It's already been happening and will continue to be a part of our culture. Being true to yourself and allowing others to be true to themselves is what makes Canada so great, and you can see examples of this in the way that the laws are changing to reflect that. Thanks to the powers that were over 10 years ago, Canadian residents can now feel comfortable being gay and wanting to get married without any worries. You can now be common law, get married, and even get a divorce without the law holding you back. True freedom is being able to make your own decisions when it comes to who you choose to love, settle down with, and even possibly start a family with.