Canada's House of Commons passed landmark legislation Tuesday to legalize gay marriage, granting same-sex couples legal rights equal to those in traditional unions between a man and a woman.
The bill passed as expected, despite opposition from Conservatives and religious leaders. The legislation drafted by Prime Minister Paul Martin's minority Liberal Party government was also expected to easily pass the Senate and become federal law by the end of next month.
Although gay marriage is already legal in seven provinces, the bill now grants all same-sex couples in Canada the same legal rights as those in traditional union between a man and a woman.
The Netherlands and Belgium are the only other nations that allow gay marriage nationwide.
It was the last major piece of legislation before parliament recessed for summer and comes on the first anniversary of Martin's leadership.
Thirty-three of Martin's Liberal lawmakers voted against the bill and a Cabinet minister resigned Tuesday over the contentious legislation. But enough allies rallied to support the bill that has been debated for months.
The prime minister, a Roman Catholic, hailed Tuesday's 158-133 vote as a necessary step for human rights and the protection of minorities.
"We are a nation of minorities," Martin said. "And in a nation of minorities, it is important that you don't cherry pick rights. A right is a right and that is what this vote tonight is all about."
There are an estimated 34,000 gay and lesbian couples in Canada, according to government statistics.
Alex Munter, national spokesman for Canadians for Equal Marriage, which has led the debate in favor of the law, was triumphant after the vote: "The genius of Canada, almost unparalleled in the world, is built on shared identity, out of respect for each other."
Munter noted that is has been 30 years since the first homosexual couple applied for a marriage license in Canada.
"This has been a long, arduous road," he said. "Lesbians and gay people are your brothers and sisters, neighbors, friends and co-workers. At the end of the day, no argument in favor of exclusion can withstand what people see with their own eyes: That it is wrong to treat people that they care about in a way that diminishes their personal choice."
The Roman Catholic Church, the predominant Christian denomination in Canada, has vigorously opposed the legislation, as have major Islamic and Sikh organizations.
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