Realwomen of BC - Archives - April2003

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Justice Committee Hearings on Marriage On April 1, 2003, three members of REAL Women of B.C. attended a hearing in Vancouver, presenting a brief outlining our organization’s position on the importance of not including same sex couples in the definition of marriage now or in the future in Canada. Sharen Frewing (from Burnaby and currently a member of the provincial and national boards), and Virginia Kirkham and Laurie Geschke, (members from Maple Ridge) prepared and presented the brief as the third witness group in a set of three in an hour-long time slot that morning. The other presenters were a male homosexual and his partner, and a member of the Quakers in Vancouver. Both other groups spoke in favour of amending the definition and drew their justification in large measure from their interpretations of Scripture. Our presentation focused on the legal, sociological, and economic ramifications of the proposed changes. Committee members present included members from the Liberal, Canadian Alliance and Bloc QuÈbecois Parties, and aside from MP Hedy Fry (Lib.), all spoke during and afterward positively about our points to the committee. Two print media interviews and five interviews in front of cameras were done, including one for French CBC and one for Vancouver’s Gay and Lesbian Television. All the interviews went well, though the hearings never actually made the cut to be part of the news that day.
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