CANADA BECOMES COOL

It's A Fine Time To Be Gay In The United States.

The Supreme Court has ruled that homosexuals are entitled to respect
for their private lives. The Massachusetts Supreme Court is poised to
rule on gays' marriage rights. The New York Times' wedding pages now
report on same-sex pairings. Stuffy old Wal-Mart just banned
sexual-orientation discrimination. Even Dubya seems to be digging the
rainbow, saying a proposed constitutional ban on homosexual marriage
might not be necessary.

Unfortunately, compared to the rest of North America, we're still in
the Stone Age. Canada, our usually uninspiring neighbor to the north,
has suddenly become very hip.

While we were off creating hoopla about the expunging of a blatantly
out-dated Texas sodomy law, Canadians were quietly breaking down much
more impressive barriers. Ontario courts recently legalized gay
marriages, and the rest of the country could follow suit. The Canadian
government has introduced legislation to decriminalize marijuana.
Vancouver will be the site of the first "safe injection site" in North
America, providing needle exchanges and health assistance to heroin
addicts. And let's not forget that while Canada boldly came to our aid
after Sept. 11, it did not bow to international peer pressure and
support the questionable U.S.-British invasion of Iraq.

So forget about Cancun and Panama Beach. If you want a real party,
head on up over the border and get down with the Canucks.