Canada became the world's fourth nation to grant full legal rights to same-sex couples. Despite strong opposition from Conservatives and religious leaders, the law has been approved by the Senate, and then it was signed by Supreme Court Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin.

According to CNN, the bill giving homosexual couples the same rights as those in traditional unions between a man and a woman, has been already legal in eight of Canada's 10 provinces and in two of its three territories.


Canada has joined Netherlands, Belgium and Spain, the only other nations that allow gay marriage nationwide, vigorously contested by the Roman Catholic Church.


"It is a signal to the world that Canada is an open and inclusive society that believes in the notion of full citizenship for all", declared Alex Munter, national spokesman for Canadians for Equal Marriage, which has led the debate in favor of the law.

On the other hand, Jim Hughes, National President of Campaign Life Coalition, declared: "The harm that will flow from this unnecessary legislation is incalculable, and may take generations to undo. Decent and fair-minded Canadians deplore this travesty of justice and should resolve to punish the perpetrators at the polls regardless of political party".

Meanwhile, in the United States, Massachusetts is the only state that allows gay marriages, as Vermont and Connecticut have only approved same-sex civil unions.