(from CBC)

Larry Zolf:

Like it or not, same-sex marriage means a full and equal status for gays, who have long been discriminated against. Now we have a gay mayor of Winnipeg, and gay MPs like Robinson and Conservative leadership candidate Scott Brison.

Same-sex marriage is tied in with human rights and Charter rights and has the blessing of virtually every poll in the country. Liberal Catholic MPs who invoke their consciences on same-sex marriage may not be doing themselves a favour.

And what about the families of gays and lesbians who want to marry? I'm in one of those families. Families of gays wish to see their gay children happy. No matter how you look at it, a denial of same-sex marriage is a denial of the families, friends and colleagues of gay people.

"Personal conscience" is not really a good guide in all this. Doing the right and fair thing is what counts. Catholics, Protestants, Muslims, Jews, blacks and gays have all suffered at the hands of people who have invoked their conscience or religion first and foremost.

Same-sex marriage makes legal sense, makes political sense, makes moral sense. Same-sex marriage is a common sense revolution that's long overdue.