A member of the primary same-sex couple to be legally joined in a civil union in North America has died.
Theo Wouters mentioned his husband Roger Thibault, 77, died in his arms Friday. The 2 males had shared their lives for 50 years.
Roger Thibault (left) locations a marriage band on Theo Wouters throughout their wedding ceremony on the Montreal Courthouse on Thursday July 18, 2002. They have been the primary same-sex couple to be legally joined in a civil union in North America.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Anthony Peters)
Wouters mentioned Thibault suffered from Parkinson’s illness. “Sadly, Rogers’ diseases progressed very quick,” he mentioned in an interview. “Final week, his situation deteriorated fairly shortly.”
The couple was united in a civil union in July 2002, shortly after the Quebec authorities created the brand new type of authorized partnership, distinguished from marriage solely by its title, which was open to similar intercourse {couples}.
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Quebec would legalize similar intercourse marriage in 2004, the third province to take action.
The federal authorities would comply with in 2005, legalizing similar intercourse marriage within the two provinces and two territories that had not already performed so.
Wouters, 81, mentioned he hopes that future generations will bear in mind the battle that he and his husband waged towards homophobia, significantly within the Montreal suburb of Pointe-Claire, the place they organized a march that drew 1000’s of individuals in Could 2001.
Wouters mentioned he worries in regards to the looming risk that LGBTQ+ rights can be rolled-back.
“We would like right this moment’s younger individuals to stay very vigilant,” he mentioned. “What’s taking place in america is terrifying.”
The couple was named honorary residents of Montreal final Could in celebration of their battle towards discrimination and hate.
Patrick Desmarais, president of Fondation Emergence, a Quebec group that works towards homophobia and transphobia, mentioned he can be fascinated by the couple throughout Montreal’s pleasure parade Sunday.
“After all, after we march, we march in reminiscence of the battles we’ve received as a neighborhood. The truth that Roger and Theo have been the primary couple to legally enter right into a civil union in Quebec, in North America, in reality, was the start of many stunning successes that our neighborhood has had in acquiring the identical rights as different {couples},” he mentioned.
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