Gay city councillor weds
Vancouver city councillor Tim Stevenson, who performed the first same-sex marriage in British Columbia, is now a married man himself.
 Tim Stevenson (File photo) |
- FROM JULY 8, 2003: B.C.'s first same-sex wedding
Stevenson tied the knot Tuesday night with Gary Patterson, his partner of 22 years.
It was a small affair with just Stevenson, Patterson and four friends in attendance all of them ordained ministers in the United Church.
- INDEPTH: Same-sex rights
Stevenson says it was important to him to have the relationship legally recognized now.
He says he's worried a Conservative majority government could stop other same-sex couples from following in his footsteps.
"I think if Mr. Harper becomes prime minister and has a majority government, that he'll appoint people to the Supreme Court and there's are two openings coming up that will undoubtedly be opposed, and that will make a huge difference."
Stevenson is also worried that if the issue of same-sex marriage ever came before a Conservative majority in the House of Commons, it would be defeated.
Patterson and Stevenson held a church ceremony two years ago, but vowed that one day they would make their marriage legal.
"We knew that come the day that it was possible to have a legal marriage, we would do that," says Stevenson.
Stevenson left his city hall office just two hours before his wedding, trailing a string of tin cans that city staff had tied to his bumper.