"We cannot take for granted that rights that are recognized in Canada will be recognized or accepted abroad. Attempting to enter a country as a same-sex married couple may result in refusal by local officials. The department also warns that, in certain countries, homosexual activity is illegal and if convicted a person could risk a fine, imprisonment, whipping, or even deportation and death. Gay couples are advised to be aware of their rights and also the laws of the country they are planning to visit. Whether visiting or moving to another country, Canadians should always take the time to learn about the laws of the country for which they are destined before leaving home."

Pettigrew's communications director, Sébastien Théberge, said that the warning was prompted partly by "concerns and questions from Canadians," and the recent passage of the legislation. He said: "Sometimes we take it for granted of what we have, and the kind of rights we have in Canada. But it's not everywhere."

Foreign Affairs recommends that same-sex married couples surf its consular affairs website at http://www.voyage.gc.ca to ensure they know their rights and the laws of the country they want to visit. ₅

"Canada is politically sick and democratically dysfunctional, says Canada Family Action Coalition. Canada's Liberal 'ordered democracy' is very dictatorial bordering on fascism. 'The forced passage of the redefinition of marriage has destroyed any remaining illusions of democracy in this nation,' says Brian Rushfeldt, Executive Director of Canada Family Action Coalition (CFAC). The dictatorial imposition of homosexual marriage began with a few judges overriding Parliament. It continued with the Prime Minister ordering MPs to vote in favor of his 'values agenda.' It included a meaningless and stacked 'public hearing,' and has now ended with a Senate being ordered to pass Bill C-38. This government had no mandate - the majority of MPs ran last election on a pro-marriage platform. 'This is the most illegitimate legislation a Canadian government has ever passed,' said Rushfeldt. 'When legislation is illegitimate, then it is likely that most Canadians will continue to oppose it and even ignore it.'  Democratically, Canada is a sick nation. 'Redefining marriage is the worst possible resolution of the marriage battle; it has caused great division amongst Canadians. It is a disaster for Canadian children. And it has shown how 'democratically dysfunctional' the Liberals are," said Rushfeldt." ₁₀

"C-38 must not be recognized because it attacks and marginalizes the state’s main competitors, faith and the family, which provide a home for natural rights. It thus threatens to subjugate and absorb civil society itself. To recognize C-38 would be to hand over to the state what does not belong to it, and so to cultivate tyranny. That this handing over is demanded in the name of equality rights only makes it a more cynical exercise of illegitimate power." He recommends that clergy refuse to use the new unisex marriage license forms that provinces are providing for both opposite-sex and same-sex couples, even if this means that the couples they marry may not be legal."  ₁₁

"...even though the contemptible Bill C-38 was passed this week, our efforts working against it have been worthwhile since they caused our forces to become organized and deeply engaged in the political process....Most of us were aware that we were mightily effective during the C-38 battle.....We were only defeated by the unscrupulous maneuvers of a corrupt and manipulative government which refused to allow the democratic process to function during the debate. There will be a federal election within the next six months - the results of which may lead to the repeal of Bill C-38. We can and will make a tremendous difference in the outcome of that election, providing we continue to work together, as we did on Bill C-38. We did impressive work undermining Bill C-38, and we can and will do impressive work during the 2006 federal election campaign with God's Grace. Let us pray and prepare ourselves for that battle. ₁₃

" 'The relative closeness of the vote and the fact that public opinion polls continue to show a strong majority of Canadians oppose legalizing same- sex marriage prove that this issue has not been finally resolved,' noted the Hon. Dr. Grant Hill, P.C., Coordinator of United Families' Defend Marriage Canada Project. 'It is clear that C-38 would not have passed if the government had allowed a true free vote. It seems certain that we will be going to an election within a year and Canadians will remember the undemocratic way the government rammed this bill through for purely political reasons'."

" 'I predict that a number of MPs have ended their political careers as a result of voting for C-38,' Dr. Hill said. 'Others in marginal ridings will have especially interesting re-election campaigns if they choose to stand again'."

" 'The government has wrongly and inaccurately characterized this as a minority rights issue,' said Jill Cahoon, Executive Director of United Families Canada, 'when in fact it is not. The courts have not ultimately made that determination and the government has done the country a grave disservice by refusing to appeal lower court decisions to the Supreme Court to get a clear legal resolution. We will continue to educate Canadians on the facts and realities of the threats posed by radically altering the core meaning of marriage in our society and to work to have the will of the majority on this issue reflected in our laws'." ₁₅

"Today our government has chosen to redefine the foundational institution of our society. The consequences of this massive social experiment have not been fully examined or understood. With the passage of this legislation, the government has reconfigured marriage as a primarily adult-centered institution, and surrendered its ability to champion the rights of children to know and be raised by a mother and a father. By reason of faith, conscience, practice and teaching, the EFC cannot accept this new definition of marriage. Evangelical pastors and congregations will continue to celebrate and promote marriage as the exclusive and enduring union of one man and one woman. Further, we will continue to use the language of husband and wife and promote marriage as the real and symbolic affirmation of, and commitment to, the child's right to know and experience a mother and a father....The unique, distinct nature of heterosexual marriage is no longer recognized in our law and public policy, but we will continue to promote and teach the biblical understanding of marriage in our families and churches." ₁₆

"There is little doubt that religious freedom will be compromised by this change in the definition of marriage. The amendments to the bill will provide some measure of protection for religious freedom, but they are not sufficient and cannot address the consequences of this legislation in areas of provincial responsibility. Despite the very real threats to freedom of conscience and religion, we will not allow fear of recrimination or prosecution to dictate what our faith community believes and teaches in this regard. Marriage was not created by the state but was recognized by the state for certain purposes. Therefore, it cannot be changed by the state....The EFC will continue to press for the freedom to dissent from the new legal definition of marriage and its consequences, and work to ensure the provinces and territories enact legislation to protect freedom of religion and conscience in this regard." ₁₆

Positive reactions to the passage of C-38

Subsequent developments

^{Page Translator:}

This page translator works on Firefox,
Opera, Chrome, and Safari browsers only

After translating, click on the "show
original" button at the top of this
page to restore page to English.