COURT ALLOWS GAYS IN YUKON TO MARRY: From CBC News

The Yukon has become the fourth jurisdiction in the country to legalize gay marriages.

Justice Peter McIntyre ordered the Yukon government Wednesday to change its definition of marriage to, "the voluntary union for life of two persons, to the exclusion of all others".

The Yukon Supreme Court also ruled that two gay men, Stephene Dunbar and Rob Edge, should be able to marry, and they will, this Saturday.

A lawyer for the two men said his clients were discriminated against when the territory turned down their request for a marriage licence.

Jim Tucker likened their situation to a famous American civil rights case.

"Telling [them] that they could get married by the use of banns in their church is analogous to telling Rosa Parks that she could take a cab," he said.

Yukon Premier Dennis Fentie praised the court, saying the judge's decision demonstrates how courts can be used to extend freedoms to all Canadians.

"I think it's great when due process can reach these conclusions on behalf of any particular group of citizens in this country. It shows this country is very open to all views and I think that's a good thing and the Yukon is no different," Fentie added.

The premier did not comment on the judge's criticism of the territorial government for not issuing the marriage license in the first place.

Quebec, Ontario and British Columbia also allow same-sex marriages.

The federal government has asked the Supreme Court of Canada for an opinion on proposed federal legislation to legalize gay marriages.

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