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#TBT: It’s been 20 years since the first legal gay marriage in Canada on January 14, 2001 between these two couples, Anne and Elaine Vautour and Kevin Bourassa and Joe Varnell. https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2021/01/14/from-the-archives-tears-kisses-and-a-standing-ovation-as-two-gay-couples-tie-the-knot-and-make-history.html
Local, national and international new organizations attended the wedding such as Agence France Press, Reuters, Associated Press, Time, Newsweek, Salon Magazine, Mother Jones, a Japanese television crew and even the Christian Broadcast Network. https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2021/01/14/from-the-archives-tears-kisses-and-a-standing-ovation-as-two-gay-couples-tie-the-knot-and-make-history.html
“We didn’t set out to be activists,” said Joe Varnell. “We wanted to get married and just go home. People should have the right to marry. Any loving relationship between two adults, they should have the right to be treated with equality and respect.” https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2021/01/14/from-the-archives-tears-kisses-and-a-standing-ovation-as-two-gay-couples-tie-the-knot-and-make-history.html
I’m happy to report both couples are still happily married and riding out the pandemic together. "Sometimes it feels surreal because the years have flown by,” Elaine said yesterday. https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2021/01/14/from-the-archives-tears-kisses-and-a-standing-ovation-as-two-gay-couples-tie-the-knot-and-make-history.html
“While this is a strange way to observe the anniversary, it also highlights what is truly important and what was always at the heart of our very public marriage we are a couple in love who want to grow old together and to be there for each other, especially when times are tough.”
If you are in need of additional wholesome content you can watch a snippet of the wedding video from @TheArQuives https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2021/01/14/from-the-archives-tears-kisses-and-a-standing-ovation-as-two-gay-couples-tie-the-knot-and-make-history.html
