1. Objectifs

Intentions :
«The purpose of this paper is to briefly review family policy in Canada, to examine same-sex marriage in Canada, and to determine whether same-sex marriage legislation is an exception to, or an exemplar of, Canadian family policy.» (p. 88)

2. Méthode

Échantillon/Matériau :
Données documentaires diverses

Type de traitement des données :
Réflexion critique

3. Résumé

«Extending marriage to same-sex couples is hardly about promoting state-sanctioned reproduction, however. Rather, passing same-sex marriage legislation is primarily about human rights or equality rights (e.g., Alderson 2004; MacIntosh et al. 2010; Rose and Bureau 2009). […] Promoting equality rights, although less salient in the Canadian context than investing in children, is an important, albeit secondary, aspect of family policy (e.g., Vail 2002). Furthermore, it is naïve to think that lesbian and gay men exist in a vacuum, without families of origin and families of procreation that they care about and care for, whether in their own home or in extended family settings. Not only do some lesbians and gay men choose to become parents in the context of a gay relationship […], but they are even more likely to bring children from previous heterosexual relationships to those relationships […]. In addition, lesbians and gay men also have siblings and aging parents of their own, as well as other extended family members […]. While the primary rationale for same-sex marriage legislation may have been to further equality rights, assisting same-sex couples to care for their children and other family members is, perhaps, an unintended side effect. Just as heterosexual couples can receive parental benefits while caring for a new baby, so too can gay or lesbian couples. […] Although same-sex marriage legislation may not be the best example of family policy in Canada, neither is it an exception to the rule.» (p. 93) L’auteure compare à quelques reprises la situation du Québec à celle des autres provinces.