Mr. Speaker, section 15 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms states that "every individual is equal before and under the law and has the right to equal protection and equal benefit of the law without discrimination and, in particular, without discrimination based on race, national, or ethnic origin, colour, religion, sex, age, or mental, or physical disability." The courts have found that section 15 protects equality on the basis of other things that aren't mentioned, such as sexual orientation. To deny gays and lesbians the right to marry is in violation of the Charter. The present law we have defines marriage as the union of one man and one woman and provides them with rights that are denied to same sex couples. These rights are things like joint adoption. With same sex couples only one of them can adopt the child while straight couples are allowed to adopt...