Two gay couples were pronounced legally married in Toronto Sunday, Jan. 14, by Rev. Brent Hawkes of the Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto, sparking a controversy expected to bring a showdown with the government.
According to the MCC, “pursuant to Section 5 of the Ontario Marriage Act, the church has the authority to follow the ancient Christian tradition of the publication of banns of marriage instead of requiring couples to obtain a marriage license. Under Ontario law, couples who wish to marry can either obtain a license from the clerk of their local municipality or they can have their banns published in a church that they regularly attend. Municipal clerks in Ontario have declined to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples and this is now the subject of a court case in Ontario Divisional Court.”
The couples joined were: Kevin Bourassa and Joe Varnell and Elaine and Anne Vatour.