Same-sex marriage in Yukon
| Same-sex marriage |
| Recognised nationwide in: |
| Belgium |
| Netherlands |
| Recognised in some regions in: |
| Canada (Ont, Que, B.C, Y.T) |
| United States (Massachusetts) |
| Other countries: |
| Australia |
| France |
| South Africa |
| Spain |
| See also |
| Civil union |
| Domestic partnership |
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Same-sex marriage in Yukon: On July 14, 2004, Yukon Territory became the fourth jurisdiction in Canada to legalize same-sex marriage, after the provinces of Ontario, British Columbia, and Quebec.
Rob Edge and Stephen Dunbar had brought suit against the Yukon government after being refused a marriage licence in Whitehorse. Their lawyer, Jim Tucker, argued that the federal government's failure to appeal the decisions legalizing same-sex marriage in Ontario, BC, and Quebec signalled a change in Canadian common law regarding marriage.
Justice Peter McIntyre agreed that the federal government was inconsistent in its approach to the definition of marriage, a federal responsibility, since it had not appealed the first three decisions. Justice McIntyre declared same-sex marriages legal in Yukon, and ordered the government to issue a marriage licence to Mr. Edge and Mr. Dunbar.
The judge obtained verbal promises from the territorial government that the couple would be granted marriage licences. Yukon premier Dennis Fentie praised the ruling.