Canada's House of Commons voted Tuesday to legalize gay
marriage, passing legislation that would grant same-sex couples in
Canada the same legal rights as 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 PM Paul Martin's
minority Liberal Party government was also expected to easily pass
through the Senate and become federal law by the end of July.
Before the measure passed, gay marriage was legal in seven
provinces.
The Netherlands and Belgium are the only other two nations that
allow gay marriage nationwide.
