Canada legalizes same-sex marriages

OTTAWA — Canada has become the fourth country to legalize same-sex marriage. The senate, on July 19, passed Bill C-38, 47–21, exactly three weeks after the same bill also passed the House of Commons. It received the signature of the governor general — Queen Elizabeth’s representative in Canada — in a procedure called “royal assent” July 20.

Gay marriage was already legal in eight of 10 provinces and one of three territories. The bill legalizes it nationwide. Canada joins Belgium, the Netherlands and Spain as the only countries to legalize gay marriage. Geographically Canada is the largest country to legalize gay marriage, although Spain is the most populous. But Canada is the first country outside of Europe to legalize it.