>From the London Free press (London, Ontario, CA):

Homosexual Marriages
Two men end relationship after losing attempt to wed
By Stephen Bindman, Southam News
OTTAWA--Pierre Beaulne and Todd Layland have ended their relationship but
hope their fight to legalize homosexual marriages will go on.
	The two gay men, who last month narrowly lost their bid to be
legally married, have revealed they are no longer a couple, in part
because of the federal government's decision to force them to live in
different countries.
	However, they are seeking permission to appeal a recent Ontario
Court ruling they weren't discriminated against when denied a marriage
licence at Ottawa city hall last year because they were men.
	Although they are no longer seeking to be married, Beaulne and
Layland want Ontario's top court to rule that under Canadian law a
marriage can take place between two men.
	"The total lack of recognition of same-sex relationships must be
resolved if Canada is to move into the 21st century," they said in a
statement. "The reality is that over two million gay and lesbian Canadians
have no legal status in this country." 
	Beaulne, 27, and Layland, 21, met in June 1991 at Gay Pride Day in
Toronto after corresponding for several months. They moved in together in
Ottawa a few months later.
	But since last July, they have lived in separate countries because
Immigration Minister Bernard Valcourt refused to extend the work permit of
Layland, an American citizen, until their court challenge was resolved.
	Homosexuals can't sponsor their same-sex partners for
landed-immigrant status, so Beaulne moved to Vancouver while Layland lived
in Seattle, Wash.
	But the men say the stress of living apart and only seeing each
other every few weeks took its toll and the relationship ended in February.
	"The emotional strain of living in different countries, with very
little hope of being together for many years, was extremely painful to
endure."
	"Whether or not it was the intention of the federal government to
put our relationship through this strain, that was the effect of the
immigration decision."
	Beaulne and Layland were the first to challenge the Canadian rules
of marriage under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. 
	Although neither federal nor provincial laws explicitly prohibit
same-sex marriages, judges have traditionally recognized marriage is the
union of a man and a woman.
	The 2-1 divisional court ruling confirmed restriction doesn't
violate the charter's equality guarantees.
---End of article----------------------------------------------------