Portrait of Stephen Harper
Politician · concept
Wikipedia (opens in new tab)

Stephen Harper on Same-Sex Marriage

Shifted from opposition to acceptance (strong)

TL;DR

Stephen Harper campaigned to reverse same-sex marriage legalization but later stated he would not revisit the settled issue.

Key Points

  • He pledged during the 2006 election campaign to introduce a motion to restore the traditional definition of marriage.

  • His motion to redefine marriage was defeated in the House of Commons on December 7, 2006, by a vote of 123 to 175.

  • Following the 2006 vote, he stated his government had no intention of further opening or reopening the issue.

Summary

Stephen Harper's position on same-sex marriage has been defined by his initial opposition to the legalization of marriage between same-sex couples in Canada. During the 2006 federal election, he campaigned on holding a free vote in Parliament to revisit the issue, having previously expressed that civil unions would be a suitable alternative. Upon becoming Prime Minister, his government introduced a motion in December 2006 to restore the traditional definition of marriage, which was ultimately defeated in the House of Commons.

Following the motion's defeat, Harper announced that his government would not revisit the matter, even if they secured a majority government in subsequent elections. Although historically opposed to marriage equality—once calling the comparison of marriage exclusion to segregation "vile and disgusting"—he later maintained that the issue was settled. His later stance shifted to respecting the existing legal status quo without actively campaigning to overturn it, despite his former personal opposition.

Frequently Asked Questions

Stephen Harper, upon becoming Prime Minister in 2006, introduced a motion in the House of Commons to restore the traditional, opposite-sex definition of marriage. This motion followed his campaign promise to allow Parliament a free vote on the issue, despite same-sex marriage already being legal nationwide.

His stance evolved from actively seeking to reverse the legalization of same-sex marriage to accepting the legal status quo after a parliamentary vote failed to support his motion. He stated after that vote that the issue was settled and he would not revisit it, even with a majority.

In 2003, Stephen Harper equated the argument for same-sex marriage as a civil rights issue with segregation and apartheid, calling the comparison "vile and disgusting." He viewed civil unions as a separate but acceptable alternative to marriage equality.