Hallmark might be all about good old American values. But it
also knows a growing market opportunity when it sees one.
And even if most U.S. states still don’t recognize gay
marriage, Hallmark does by introducing same-sex wedding cards — featuring two
tuxedoes, overlapping hearts or intertwined flowers. The language inside the
cards is neutral, with no mention of wedding or marriage, making them also suitable
for a commitment ceremony.
As expected, organizations such as People For The American
Way aren’t pleased. Here’s an excerpt from a press release it issued this week:
Hallmark is jeopardizing its brand as a family-friendly
company. Customers used to be able
to trust Hallmark to produce quality products that were safe for all ages. Now parents will need to steer their
kids from Hallmark's section of the greeting card aisle and away from its
previously heartwarming movies for fear that they too will push homosexual
messages.
You can read more on the organization’s website - Hallmark Helping Destroy The Family
Same-sex unions in Quebec
Same-sex marriages were legalized in July 2005 following
recognition by the Supreme Court of Canada. Some provinces had already
legalized same-sex marriages, beginning with Ontario and British Columbia in
2003 and Quebec in 2004.
The 2006 Census collected, for the first time, information
on same-sex married couples. The collection of this information in the census
relies on self-identification by respondents of their same-sex common-law or
married status.
CBC report on the 2006 Census on YouTube
The Census reports 45,350 same-sex couples in Canada (37,885
same-sex common-law couples and 7,465 same-sex married couples) and 13,685
same-sex couples in Quebec (12,425 same-sex common-law couples and 1,260
same-sex married couples). Source Statistics Canada
It’s interesting that the ratio of common-law and married
couples in Quebec among same sex couples tends to mirror the general pattern
observed in the province among couples of the opposite sex. (See this previous post about common-law unions in Quebec for more data on this)
Canadians and Quebeckers generally support the concept of
same sex marriage.
A survey by Ipsos-Reid conducted in November 2004 found that
71% of Canadians support the idea. The Canadians most likely to believe that
same sex marriage ‘should be fully recognized and equal to conventional
heterosexual marriages” are residents of B.C. (44%), followed by residents of
Atlantic Canada (40%), Quebec (39%), Ontario (38%), Saskatchewan/Manitoba (37%)
and Alberta (36%).
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