Mr. Speaker, there has been much debate about sexual orientation and issues concerning the rights and status of gays and lesbians in our society. I believe that there are two parts to this issue. The first is a matter of discrimination and the legal rights of the individual; the second is group rights.
I personally support the addition of sexual orientation as a prohibited ground of discrimination in the Canadian Human Rights Act providing that sexual orientation is defined as homosexuality, heterosexuality or bisexuality.
Canadians must decide whether or not they want to give same sex relationships the same rights and benefits as heterosexual relationships. Personally, I do not support granting gay and lesbian couples the same status as heterosexual couples with regard to marriage, adoption and common law rights.
A spouse should continue to be defined as a member of the opposite sex and the family defined as those related by blood, adoption or marriage.