View source for Same-sex marriage in Quebec

{{short description|none<!-- No short description per [[WP:SDNONE]] -->}}
{{SSM|marriage}}
[[Same-sex marriage]] has been legal in [[Quebec]] since March 19, 2004, following a ruling by the [[Quebec Court of Appeal]] that the heterosexual definition of [[marriage]] violated the ''[[Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms]]''. Quebec was the third [[Canadian province]] after [[Ontario]] and [[British Columbia]] and the fifth jurisdiction in the world to open marriage to same-sex couples.

Quebec has also recognised [[civil union]]s offering most of the rights and benefits of marriage since 24 June 2002.

==Court ruling==
In 2000, [[Michael Hendricks and René Leboeuf]] applied for a [[marriage licence]] in [[Montreal]], but were turned down by a clerk who cited sections of the law that defined [[marriage]] as being between "a man and a woman". Following the rejection, they filed a lawsuit against the [[Government of Quebec]], arguing that its refusal to perform and recognise [[same-sex marriage]] violated the ''[[Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms]]'' ({{langx|fr|Charte canadienne des droits et libertés}}). Two conservative organisations, the [[Evangelical Fellowship of Canada]] and the [[Catholic Civil Rights League]], were granted [[Intervention (law)|intervenor]] status in the case, ''Hendricks and Leboeuf v. Quebec''. The [[lawsuit]] was heard in the [[Quebec Superior Court]] on 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 November 2001. The provincial and federal governments had initially opposed the court bid; provincial Attorney General [[Paul Bégin]] argued that "gays and lesbians were not suffering any form of discrimination in [Quebec]", while federal Attorney General [[Anne McLellan]] argued that the definition of marriage was at the [[Parliament of Canada]]'s discretion and not a matter for the courts to address.<ref name=":1"/>

A lawyer representing the conservative religious groups argued that if the court ruled in favor of same-sex marriage "[h]is heterosexual clients would no longer be able to marry. That is because, to them, marriage is a heterosexual institution." [[Daniel Cere]], a [[Roman Catholic Church|Catholic]] professor at [[McGill University]], who filed an [[affidavit]] for the court, said that same-sex marriage "would fracture the basis of shared religious and civil peace in the province". Rabbi [[David Novak]] also filed an affidavit, stating that same-sex marriage would "create a schism between [[Jews]] and the rest of society", and said that [[Judaism]] "expect[ed] them [gay people] to remain celibate for life". Other affidavits from religious groups included one from an anonymous [[Muslims|Muslim]] imam stating that same-sex marriage "would invalidate Muslim beliefs, preventing Muslims from full participation in Canadian society", while one from a conservative [[Protestantism|Protestant]] professor at [[Regent College]] said that same-sex marriage "would drive a stake into the heart of Protestant beliefs".<ref name=":1"/>

Attorney Noël Saint-Pierre argued that denying marriage rights to same-sex couples constituted unfair [[discrimination]], as they were unable to access legal benefits often taken for granted by married opposite-sex couples, such as [[alimony]], [[immigration]] rights, [[child support]], hospital visitation rights and protection from [[domestic violence]], among others. Saint-Pierre also refuted the religious groups' claims, citing the [[Netherlands]], where same-sex marriage [[Same-sex marriage in the Netherlands|has been legal since 2001]]: "The fears of the religious conservatives did not materialize. Christians did not stop marrying. Jews did not flee the country."<ref name=":1"/> Judge Louise Lemelin ruled in the couple's favour on September 6, 2002. The court gave the federal government two years in which to modify federal law to allow gays and lesbians to marry. A lawyer representing the plaintiff couple told the ''[[Montreal Gazette]]'':

{{blockquote|What makes the Quebec victory important for all of Canada is that [Judge Lemelin] had the chance to look at a civil-union law and to comment herself as to whether that would be enough of a solution for gay and lesbian couples. But Judge Lemelin said in very strong terms that a civil union, as wonderful as it is because of all the economic rights that it gives, is still not marriage.}}

The federal government [[appeal]]ed the decision of the Superior Court on September 9, 2002, but abandoned that appeal in 2003, the year same-sex marriage was legalized in [[Same-sex marriage in Ontario|Ontario]] and [[Same-sex marriage in British Columbia|British Columbia]]. However, the case continued, with the religious groups still opposing the plaintiffs' claims. The groups argued that the legalisation of same-sex marriage was unconstitutional under the ''[[Constitution Act, 1867]]'', would prevent heterosexual couples from marrying and would "weaken the meaning of marriage". On March 19, 2004, the [[Quebec Court of Appeal]] ruled similarly to the [[Court of Appeal for Ontario|Ontario]] and [[British Columbia Court of Appeal|British Columbia]] courts, upholding the case, now ''Catholic Civil Rights League v. Hendricks'', in a unanimous 5–0 vote, and ordering that it take effect immediately.<ref name=":1">{{cite web|url=http://www.religioustolerance.org/hom_marb4.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021222085703/http://www.religioustolerance.org/hom_marb4.htm|url-status=usurped|archive-date=December 22, 2002|title=Same-sex marriage in Quebec, Canada|work=Religious Tolerance}}</ref> Hendricks and Leboeuf immediately sought a marriage licence; the usual 20-day waiting period was waived, and they were wed on April 1 at the [[Palais de justice (Montreal)|Palais de justice]] in Montreal. Hendricks said, "The floodgates seem to be open and it looks like Canada is going to become the first North American country that has equal marriage... This is wonderful."<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.ledevoir.com/opinion/idees/369066/mais-oui-il-y-a-eu-un-debat|title= Mariage homosexuel au Québec - Mais oui, il y a eu un débat! |date=24 January 2013|language=fr|work=LeDevoir}}</ref> Following the court decision, provincial Attorney General [[Marc Bellemare]] announced that the government would abide by the ruling.<ref name=":1"/> The Quebec decision meant that more than two-thirds of the Canadian population were living in [[Provinces and territories of Canada|provinces]] where same-sex marriage is legal.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://bilan.usherbrooke.ca/bilan/pages/evenements/23496.html|title= Dévoilement d'un jugement permettant le mariage entre conjoints de même sexe|work=bilan.usherbrooke.ca|language=fr|date=20 March 2004}}</ref> Subsequent cases, as well as federal legislation, have expanded this number to cover the entire country.

==Provincial legislation==
{{GR-C}}
===Civil unions===
{{main article|Civil unions in Quebec}}
On 7 June 2002, the [[National Assembly of Quebec]] passed a bill legalising [[civil union]]s ({{langx|fr|union civile}}, {{IPA|fr|ynjɔ̃ sivil|pron}}) for both same-sex and opposite-sex partners, offering many of the same rights, benefits and responsibilities as marriage,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.assnat.qc.ca/en/travaux-parlementaires/projets-loi/projet-loi-84-36-2.html |title=Bill n°84 : An Act instituting civil unions and establishing new rules of filiation |publisher=[[National Assembly of Quebec]] |access-date=February 12, 2016}}</ref> including the right to [[Same-sex adoption|adopt]] children jointly. The legislation passed by a unanimous 82–0 vote, and went into force on 24 June 2002. Civil unions are performed by [[court clerk]]s, [[Notary|notaries]], [[mayor]]s, members of municipal councils or borough councils, municipal officials or authorised religious officiants. Once the document is signed by both partners and the witnesses, the union is formally registered with the Director of Civil Status. Quebec civil unions are not recognised in other parts of Canada or other countries.

{| class="wikitable"
|+ 7 June 2002 vote in the [[National Assembly of Quebec|National Assembly]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.assnat.qc.ca/en/travaux-parlementaires/assemblee-nationale/36-2/journal-debats/20020607/9665.html#_Toc11482306|title=Friday, June 7, 2002 - Vol. 37 N° 112|work=Journal des débats (Hansard) of the National Assembly|language=fr|access-date=30 April 2025}}</ref>
|-
! Party !! style="width:15%;"| Voted for !! Voted against !! Absent (Did not vote)
|-
| {{Color box|{{Canadian party colour|QC|PQ}}|border=silver}} [[Parti Québécois]]
|style="background-color:#CCFFCC;" |{{collapsible list |title=53
|1=[[Maxime Arseneau]]
|2=[[Diane Barbeau]]
|3=[[Gilles Baril (PQ)|Gilles Baril]]
|4=[[Louise Beaudoin]]
|5=[[François Beaulne]]
|6=[[Yves Beaumier]]
|7=[[Stéphane Bédard]]
|8=[[Paul Bégin]]
|9=[[Jean-Paul Bergeron]]
|10=[[Rosaire Bertrand]]
|11=[[Manon Blanchet]]
|12=[[André Boisclair]]
|13=[[Claude Boucher (politician)|Claude Boucher]]
|14=[[André Boulerice]]
|15=[[Marc Boulianne]]
|16=[[Jocelyne Caron]]
|17=[[Denise Carrier-Perreault]]
|18=[[Jean-Pierre Charbonneau]]
|19=[[Solange Charest]]
|20=[[Claude Cousineau]]
|21=[[Jacques Côté]]
|22=[[Rémy Désilets]]
|23=[[Rita Dionne-Marsolais]]
|24=[[Danielle Doyer]]
|25=[[Normand Duguay]]
|26=[[Joseph Facal]]
|27=[[François Gendron]]
|28=[[Serge Geoffrion]]
|29=[[Linda Goupil]]
|30=[[Guy Julien]]
|31=[[Normand Jutras]]
|32=[[Gilles Labbé]]
|33=[[Claude Lachance]]
|34=[[Bernard Landry]]
|35=[[Benoît Laprise]]
|36=[[François Legault]]
|37=[[Richard Legendre]]
|38=[[Nicole Léger]]
|39=[[Guy Lelièvre]]
|40=[[Diane Lemieux]]
|41=[[Agnès Maltais]]
|42=[[Pauline Marois]]
|43=[[Serge Ménard]]
|44=[[Michel Morin]]
|45=[[Sylvain Pagé]]
|46=[[Lucie Papineau]]
|47=[[Roger Paquin]]
|48=[[Jean-Guy Paré]]
|49=[[David Payne (politician)|David Payne]]
|50=[[Matthias Rioux]]
|51=[[Jean Rochon]]
|52=[[Jean-François Simard]]
|53=[[Rémy Trudel]]
}}
| –
|{{collapsible list|title=15
|1=[[Jacques Baril]]
|2=[[Roger Bertrand]]
|3=[[Raymond Brouillet]]
|4=[[David Cliche]]
|5=[[Michel Côté (MNA)|Michel Côté]]
|6=[[Léandre Dion]]
|7=[[Serge Deslières]]
|8=[[Robert Kieffer]]
|9=[[Lyse Leduc]]
|10=[[Michel Létourneau]]
|11=[[Claude Pinard]]
|12=[[Hélène Robert]]
|13=[[Sylvain Simard]]
|14=[[Jean-Claude St-André]]
|15=[[Cécile Vermette]]
}}
|-
| {{Color box|{{Canadian party colour|QC|Liberal}}|border=silver}} [[Quebec Liberal Party]]
|style="background-color:#CCFFCC;" |{{collapsible list |title=28
|1=[[Madeleine Bélanger]]
|2=[[Robert Benoit]]
|3=[[Michel Bissonnet]]
|4=[[Julie Boulet]]
|5=[[Jacques Chagnon]]
|6=[[Jean Charest]]
|7=[[Jean-Marc Fournier]]
|8=[[Monique Gagnon-Tremblay]]
|9=[[Henri-François Gautrin]]
|10=[[Réal Gauvin]]
|11=[[Jean-Claude Gobé]]
|12=[[Monique Jérôme-Forget]]
|13=[[Geoffrey Kelley]]
|14=[[Michèle Lamquin-Éthier]]
|15=[[Pierre-Étienne Laporte]]
|16=[[Diane Leblanc]]
|17=[[Anna Mancuso]]
|18=[[Yvon Marcoux]]
|19=[[Tom Mulcair]]
|20=[[François Ouimet]]
|21=[[Pierre Paradis]]
|22=[[Benoît Pelletier]]
|23=[[Normand Poulin]]
|24=[[Christos Sirros]]
|25=[[André Tranchemontagne]]
|26=[[Yvon Vallières]]
|27=[[Russell Williams (politician)|Russell Williams]]
}}
| –
|{{collapsible list|title=23
|1=[[Line Beauchamp]]
|2=[[Claude Béchard]]
|3=[[Lawrence Bergman]]
|4=[[Yvan Bordeleau]]
|5=[[André Bourbeau]]
|6=[[Bernard Brodeur]]
|7=[[André Chenail]]
|8=[[Roch Cholette]]
|9=[[Russell Copeman]]
|10=[[William Cusano]]
|11=[[Margaret Delisle]]
|12=[[Michel Després]]
|13=[[Jacques Dupuis (politician)|Jacques Dupuis]]
|14=[[Françoise Gauthier]]
|15=[[Fatima Houda-Pepin]]
|16=[[Réjean Lafrenière]]
|17=[[Nicole Loiselle]]
|18=[[Norman MacMillan (politician)|Norman MacMillan]]
|19=[[Pierre Marsan]]
|20=[[Robert Middlemiss]]
|21=[[Nathalie Normandeau]]
|22=[[Nathalie Rochefort]]
|23=[[Lise Thériault]]
|24=[[David Whissell]]
}}
|-
| {{Color box|{{Canadian party colour|QC|ADQ}}|border=silver}} [[Action démocratique du Québec]]
|style="background-color:#CCFFCC;" |{{collapsible list |title=1
|1=[[Mario Dumont]]
}}
| –
|style="background-color:#FFE;"|{{collapsible list|title=1
|1=[[François Corriveau]]
}}
|-
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="2" | '''Total'''{{efn|The [[President of the National Assembly of Quebec]], [[Louise Harel]], votes only in case of a tied vote. Additionally, the [[Joliette (provincial electoral district)|Joliette]], [[Lac-Saint-Jean (provincial electoral district)|Lac-Saint-Jean]] and [[Vimont (electoral district)|Vimont]] electroral districts were vacant.}}
| {{Yes|'''82'''|align=center}}
| style="text-align:center;" | '''0'''
| style="text-align:center;" | '''39'''
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | {{percentage|82|121|1}}
| style="text-align:center;" | {{percentage|0|121|1|pad=yes}}
| style="text-align:center;" | {{percentage|39|121|1}}
|}

===Marriage===
The ''Constitution Act, 1867'' is universally interpreted as giving provinces jurisdiction over only the solemnization of marriage, while all other aspects, including capacity to marry, are under federal jurisdiction. On this basis, the [[Parliament of Canada]] can legislate on the substantive law of marriage, as it did in 2005 with the ''[[Civil Marriage Act]]''. Further, [[Section 15 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms|Section 15 of the ''Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms'']], which guarantees [[Social equality|equality rights]] and was interpreted to prohibit discrimination on the basis of [[sexual orientation]] in ''[[Egan v Canada]]'', was used by various provincial courts to find laws banning same-sex marriage unconstitutional. The ''Montreal Charter of Rights and Responsibilities'' ({{langx|fr|Charte montréalaise des droits et responsabilités}}; {{langx|moh|Tiohtià꞉ke Aoianerénhsera ne 
Iakoianerenhserá꞉wis tánon Iakoterihwaíen꞉nis}})<ref>{{cite web|url=https://portail-m4s.s3.montreal.ca/pdf/brochure_charte_montrealaise_mohawk.pdf|title=Tiohtià:ke Aoianerénhsera ne Iakoianerenhserá:wis tánon Iakoterihwaíen:nis|work=ville.montreal.qc.ca|language=moh|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210515021026/https://portail-m4s.s3.montreal.ca/pdf/brochure_charte_montrealaise_mohawk.pdf|archive-date=15 May 2021}}</ref> goes further in explicitling prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation: "Human dignity can only be preserved with a sustained and collective fight against poverty and all forms of discrimination, and in particular, those based on ethnic or national origin, race, age, social status, civil status, language, religion, sex, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation or disability."{{efn|In some official and indigenous languages of Quebec:
* {{langx|fr|La dignité de l'être humain ne peut être sauvegardée sans que soient constamment et collectivement combattues la pauvreté ainsi que toutes les formes de discrimination, notamment celles fondées sur l'origine ethnique ou nationale, la couleur, l'âge, la condition sociale, l'état civil, la langue, la religion, le sexe, l'identité et l'expression de genre, l'orientation sexuelle ou le handicap.}}
* {{langx|moh|Iah thaontókten ne ónkwe akorenhsaronhtshera tókaʼ eniakoioʼten tóhsaʼ aiakoténhton kwah tsik nitiotierá꞉ton tóhsaʼ ahonwatikén꞉ron sénha ne ákteʼ nithoné꞉non, tsi nihatiiaʼtó꞉ten, tsi naʼtehonohseriiá꞉kon, tsi nithonátte, tókaʼ ken rotiniá꞉kon, tsi nikawennó꞉ten rontá꞉ti, tsi nihotirihwiiostonhtsheró꞉ten, ónhkaʼ ne ronnónha (eʼksá꞉ʼa raksá꞉ʼa), tsi ní꞉ioht tsi ierákwas akénhake iakón꞉kwe taní rón꞉kwe, khóni ne iah akwah teiakotaʼkarí꞉te.}}}}

In November 2004, the National Assembly enacted ''An Act to amend the Civil Code as regards marriage'' ({{langx|fr|Loi modifiant le Code civil relativement au mariage}}), amending the [[Civil Code of Quebec]] to replace references to "husband and wife" with the [[Gender-neutral language|gender-neutral]] term "spouses" and permit civil unions to be converted to marriages.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.assnat.qc.ca/en/travaux-parlementaires/projets-loi/projet-loi-59-37-1.html |title=Bill n°59 : An Act to amend the Civil Code as regards marriage|publisher=National Assembly of Quebec|access-date= February 12, 2016}}</ref> Quebec was the first province in Canada to bring its laws in line with the legalisation of same-sex marriage and add a gender-neutral definition of spouse in its marriage laws.

==First Nations==
While the ''[[Indian Act]]'' ({{langx|fr|Loi sur les Indiens}}; {{langx|cr|ᐄᔨᔨᐤ ᐎᔨᔓᐙᐎᓐ|label=[[East Cree|Cree]]}},<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ourcommons.ca/DocumentViewer/en/42-1/PROC/related-document/10595745|title=ᐁ ᐋᐸᒋᐦᑖᑲᓅᒡ ᐁᑎ ᐃᑎᔅᑳᓀᓯᒥᑯᒡ ᐊᔨᒧᐧᐃᓐ ᐁ ᐅᐦᒋ ᓂᔥᑐᐧᐄᔥᑕᑲᓅᒡ ᒉᐧᑳᓐ ᐊᓂᑌᐦ ᒋᔐᐅᒋᒫᐅᐧᐋᔅᑳᐦᐄᑲᓐ ᑲᔦᐦ ᐊᓂᒌ ᑳ ᒫᒨᐱᔥᑕᐧᑳᐤᐦ|work=ourcommons.ca|language=cr|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211013125116/https://www.ourcommons.ca/DocumentViewer/en/42-1/PROC/related-document/10595745|archive-date=13 October 2021}}</ref> {{lang|cr|Iiyiyiu Wiyishuwaawin}}; {{langx|iu|ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐱᖁᔭᖅ}},<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ourcommons.ca/DocumentViewer/en/42-1/PROC/related-document/10595748|title=ᐊᑐᒐᐅᓂᖏᑦ ᓄᓇᖃᖅᖃᖅᓯᒪᔪᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖏᑕ ᑲᑎᒪᓂᖏᓐᓂ ᑲᓇᑕᐅᑉ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᕐᔪᐊᖏᑕ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᐊᓚᖏᓐᓂᓗ|work=ourcommons.ca|language=iu|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211013125117/https://www.ourcommons.ca/DocumentViewer/en/42-1/PROC/related-document/10595748|archive-date=13 October 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://opencanada.blob.core.windows.net/opengovprod/resources/8bbf1918-a893-4178-9366-5ab11974ae4f/inuktitut-texte-seulement-inukitut-texte-only.pdf?se=2025-06-10T15%3A24%3A41Z&sp=r&sv=2024-08-04&sr=b&sig=%2Bv5FPeP4MqQfQpuvvXGTrs7xCyA4eGrNRYW1zrOCOeg%3D|title=ᑲᓇᑕᒥᐅᑦ ᒪᓕᒐᕐᑎᒍᑦ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᐅᑎᖏᑦ ᐃᓱᒪᕐᓲᑎᒋᒍᓐᓇᑕᖏᓪᓗ |language=iu|work=Government of Canada|access-date=10 June 2025}}</ref> {{transliteration|iu|Nunaqaqqaaqsimajut Piqujaq}}; {{langx|moe|Innu Tshishe-utshimau-mashinaikan}};<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fct-cf.ca/Content/assets/pdf/base/2021-04-21%20T-2139-18%20EN_Innu%20summary.pdf|title=In The Matter Of Copeau v. Canada (Attorney General)|work=Federal Court|access-date=21 September 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tshakapesh.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Lexique-juridique-innu_A_Site-IT_MAI2022.pdf|title=Innu Judicial Glossary|access-date=18 June 2025|date=2022|work=Tshakapesh}}</ref> {{langx|alq|Anishinabe Tibakonagewin}};<ref>{{cite web|url=https://open.canada.ca/data/en/dataset/5abd4282-d5b0-4ac5-ac78-7210a61befdf/resource/8d613559-f087-492a-b759-07f8c8602677|title=Onakonageh mazanigan odja ka ayamin kopiyodozawin mamowi tabendizowin|work=Government of Canada|language=alq|access-date=18 June 2025}}</ref> {{langx|nsk|ᐃᔪᐤ ᐎᓱᐛᐅᓐ}}, {{transliteration|nsk|Iiyuw Wiisuwaaun}}) governs many aspects of life for [[First Nations in Canada]], it does not directly govern marriage or provide a framework for conducting customary marriages. Instead, marriage laws are primarily governed by provincial and territorial legislation. However, the ''Indian Act'' has some indirect impacts on marriage, particularly regarding band membership and property rights on reserves.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sac-isc.gc.ca/eng/1100100032553/1581773144281|title=Matrimonial real property on reserve|work=Government of Canada|access-date=17 June 2025}}</ref> Traditional [[Canadian Indigenous law|Indigenous law]] does not address same-sex unions. For instance, the [[Great Law of Peace]] ({{langx|moh|Kaianereʼkó꞉wa}}) is silent on the issue,<ref>{{cite CanLII|litigants=Six Nations of the Grand River Band of Indians v. The Attorney General of Canada|year=2023|format=canlii|court=ONSC|num=4476|date=1 August 2023}}</ref> only stating that members of the same clan are forbidden to marry.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://web.pdx.edu/~caskeym/iroquois_web/html/greatlaw.html|title=Great Law of Peace of the Haudenosaunee|access-date=18 June 2025|work=Portland State University}}</ref>

While there are no records of same-sex marriages being performed in First Nations cultures in the way they are commonly defined in [[Western world|Western]] legal systems, many Indigenous communities recognize identities and relationships that may be placed on the LGBT spectrum. Among these are [[two-spirit]] individuals—people who embody both masculine and feminine qualities. In some cultures, two-spirit individuals assigned male at birth wear women's clothing and engage in household and artistic work associated with the feminine sphere. Historically, this identity sometimes allowed for unions between two people of the same biological sex.<ref name="lang"/> The [[Cree]] refer to two-spirit individuals as {{lang|cr|iskwaauhuu}} ({{lang|cr|ᐃᔅᐧᑳᐅᐦᐆ}}).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dictionary.eastcree.org/words|title=Eastern James Bay Cree Dictionary on the Web|work=dictionary.eastcree.org|accessdate=21 September 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250802233853/https://dictionary.eastcree.org/words|archive-date=2 August 2025}}</ref> They are regarded as "esteemed persons with special spiritual powers" and are "noted [[Shamanism|shamans]]",<ref name="lang">{{cite book|title=Men as women, women as men: changing gender in Native American cultures|url=https://archive.org/details/menaswomenwomena0000lang|url-access=registration|author=Sabine Lang|publisher=University of Texas Press |year=1998 |isbn=0-292-74701-2}}</ref> and it is likely that they could marry [[cisgender]] men.<ref name="lang"/> Other nations also have distinct terms and respected roles for two-spirit people. The [[Mohawk people|Mohawk]] refer to them as {{lang|moh|onón꞉wat}} ({{IPA|moh|oˈnũ̌ːwat|pron}}),<ref name="lang"/> meaning "I have the pattern of two spirits inside my body."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health-and-fitness/health/indigenous-languages-recognize-gender-states-not-even-named-in-english/article29130778/|title=Indigenous languages recognize gender states not even named in English|work=The Globe and Mail|date=10 March 2016|first=Angela|last=Sterritt}}</ref>

==Marriage and civil union statistics==
From 2004 to 2023, 11,087 same-sex marriages were performed in Quebec, representing about 2.5% of all marriages contracted during that time.<ref name="stat">{{cite web|url= https://statistique.quebec.ca/fr/document/mariages-le-quebec/tableau/mariages-et-unions-civiles-selon-le-genre-des-conjoints-quebec|title=Mariages et unions civiles selon le sexe des conjoints, Québec, 2002-2022|website=Institut de la statistique du Québec|language=fr|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240416071015/https://statistique.quebec.ca/fr/document/mariages-le-quebec/tableau/mariages-et-unions-civiles-selon-le-genre-des-conjoints-quebec|archive-date=16 April 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fugues.com/2024/09/11/moins-de-mariages-religieux-mais-un-peu-plus-de-mariage-entre-personnes-de-meme-sexe/|language=fr|title=Moins de mariages religieux, mais un peu plus de mariages entre personnes de même sexe|work=Fuges|date=11 September 2024|first=Caroline|last=Lavigne}}</ref> There were also 1,282 same-sex civil unions performed during this same time period, representing about 20% of all civil unions.

Between 2004 and 2008, 17% of same-sex marriages were between couples from other provinces or territories, or from the [[United States]].<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.lesoleil.com/2009/06/03/le-quebec-destination-mariage-pour-couples-de-meme-sexe-88070dc9964aa8f301aba8739f0cd614?nor=true|title= Le Québec, destination mariage pour couples de même sexe |first=Pierre|last=Asselin|date=3 June 2009|language=fr}}</ref> The following table shows the number of marriages and civil unions performed in Quebec as per data published by the [[Institut de la statistique du Québec]]. Figures for 2020 and 2021 are lower than previous years because of the restrictions in place due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Quebec|COVID-19 pandemic]].

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left;"
|+ Number of marriages and civil unions performed in Quebec<ref name="stat"/>
! rowspan=2| Year 
! colspan=3 align=center| Same-sex marriages
! rowspan=2| Total marriages
! rowspan=2| % same-sex
! colspan=3 align=center| Same-sex civil unions
! rowspan=2| Total unions
! rowspan=2| % same-sex
|-
! Female
! Male
! Total
! Female 
! Male
! Total
|-
!2002
|–||–||–||–||–||69||87||156||166||94.0%
|-
!2003
|–||–||–||–||–||134||140||274||342||80.1%
|-
!2004
|97||148||245||21,279||1.15%||31||48||79||179||44.1%
|-
!2005
|173||278||451||22,244||2.03%||24||35||59||172||34.3%
|-
!2006
|272||349||621||21,956||2.83%||19||34||53||216||24.5%
|-
!2007
|216||251||467||22,147||2.11%||17||26||43||241||17.8%
|-
!2008
|186||262||448||22,053||2.03%||25||44||69||270||25.6%
|-
!2009
|222||291||513||22,588||2.27%||26||28||54||239||22.6%
|-
!2010
|234||281||515||23,199||2.22%||19||36||55||280||19.6%
|-
!2011
|256||237||493||22,903||2.15%||27||32||59||240||24.6%
|-
!2012
|259||255||514||23,504||2.19%||26||33||59||288||20.5%
|-
!2013
|306||286||592||23,181||2.55%||23||27||50||290||17.2%
|-
!2014
|291||286||577||22,429||2.57%||20||17||37||240||15.4%
|-
!2015
|285||315||600||22,441||2.67%||15||22||37||228||16.2%
|-
!2016
|317||343||660||21,958||3.01%||13||13||26||223||11.7%
|-
!2017
|336||343||679||22,883||2.97%||17||22||39||219||17.8%
|-
!2018
|385||323||708||22,841||3.10%||18||17||35||237||14.8%
|-
!2019
|365||317||682||22,284||3.06%||13||20||33||207||16.4%
|-
!2020
|192||206||398||11,326||3.51%||7||12||19||119||16.0%
|-
!2021
|245||245||490||14,708||3.33%||5||8||13||117||11.1%
|-
!2022
|371||331||704||22,908||3.07%||8||11||19||122||15.6%
|-
!2023
|377||351||728||22,711||3.21%||6||8||14||108||13.0%
|-
!2024
|382||361||743||23,049||3.22%||3||7||10||105||9.52%
|}

==Religious performance==
Several [[diocese]]s of the [[Anglican Church of Canada]] allow their clergy to [[Blessing of same-sex unions in Christian churches|bless]] and perform same-sex marriages. In 2008, the [[synod]] of the [[Anglican Diocese of Montreal|Diocese of Montreal]] voted to allow its [[parish]]es to bless same-sex unions. The measure includes a freedom of conscience clause for clergy opposed to blessing same-sex unions.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.ledevoir.com/opinion/chroniques/213885/les-mariages-gais-les-anglicans-de-montreal-optent-pour-la-liberte-de-choix|title= Les mariages gais - Les anglicans de Montréal optent pour la liberté de choix|work=Le Devoir|language=fr|date=3 November 2008|last=Leclerc|first=Jean-Claude}}</ref> In July 2016, Bishop [[Mary Irwin-Gibson]] said she would allow clergy in the Diocese of Montreal to perform same-sex marriages.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/montreal-anglican-bishop-same-sex-marriage-vote-1.3674942|title= Same-sex marriage in Montreal's Anglican church will go ahead despite vote, bishop says|work=CBC News|date=12 July 2016|last=Laframboise|first=Kalina}}</ref> The [[Anglican Diocese of Ottawa|Diocese of Ottawa]], which encompasses parts of western Quebec, including the [[Outaouais]] region, has also allowed clergy to solemnise same-sex marriages since 2016.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://us8.campaign-archive1.com/?u=4393514612b85bc118ee359b6&id=22021bb6f1|title=Bishop John's letter in response to General Synod's vote to amend Marriage Canon XXI.|access-date=2016-07-12}}</ref> The [[Anglican Diocese of Quebec|Diocese of Quebec]] has allowed blessings of same-sex unions since 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://quebec.anglican.ca/nouvelles/synode-general-realisations-et-mariage|title=Synode général, réalisations et mariage|work=Anglican Diocese of Quebec|language=fr}}</ref> Bishop [[Bruce Myers (bishop)|Bruce Myers]] expressed disappointment in July 2019 when the Anglican Church of Canada narrowly rejected a motion to approve same-sex marriage. On 24 November 2019, the synod of the Diocese of Quebec voted 37–6 to request that Bishop Myers authorise the solemnisation of same-sex marriages.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://quebec.anglican.ca/resources/synod-documents|title=Information for delegates to the 85th (Ordinary) Session of the Synod of the Diocese of Quebec|work=Anglican Diocese of Quebec}}</ref> In response to the request, Myers said, "You'll here more from me, because… what this motion also expects is that I will come back to the diocese with some specifics around how such a request would be implemented, and being clear about things like safeguards for those who do not wish to exercise and offer this ministry."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://media.voog.com/0000/0041/7823/files/January%202020%20Quebec%20Diocesan%20Gazette%20web.pdf|title=Primate brings to Synod open discussion of change, challenges ahead for church|work=Quebec Diocesan Gazette|date=December 2019|last=Townsend|first=Matthew}}</ref> On the other hand, same-sex marriages are not performed in the [[Anglican Diocese of Moosonee|Diocese of Moosonee]], which encompasses the northwestern [[Eeyou Istchee]] communities. The marriage [[Canon (canon law)|canon]] of the Anglican Church of Canada serves as the canon on marriage in the diocese.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.moosoneeanglican.ca/wp-content/uploads/Canons-Moosonee-2021-REVISED.pdf|title=Canons of the Diocese of Moosonee|work=Anglican Diocese of Moosonee|date=May 13, 2021}}</ref> Similarly, the [[Diocese of the Arctic|Diocese of The Arctic]], encompassing the northern [[Nunavik]] region, does not allow its parishes to perform same-sex marriages.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://nunatsiaq.com/stories/article/at-national-gathering-arctic-anglicans-say-no-to-same-sex-marriage/|title= At national gathering, Arctic Anglicans say no to same-sex marriage|work=Nunatsiaq News|date=22 July 2019}}</ref>

Some other religious organisations also perform same-sex marriages in their places of worship, including the [[United Church of Canada]],<ref>{{Cite web | title = Beliefs: Overview of Beliefs | publisher = The United Church of Canada | date = May 25, 2009 | url = http://www.united-church.ca/beliefs/overview | access-date = March 11, 2010 | archive-date = January 30, 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160130171658/http://www.united-church.ca/beliefs/overview | url-status = live }}</ref> [[Canadian Yearly Meeting|Quakers]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cfsc.quaker.ca/pages/documents/BriefC-38.pdf |title=Submission to the Legislative Committee on Bill C-38 (CC38) |publisher=Canadian Friends Service Committee (Quakers) |date=April 10, 2005 |access-date=April 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070922132716/http://cfsc.quaker.ca/pages/documents/BriefC-38.pdf |archive-date=September 22, 2007}}</ref> the [[Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/life/faith/evangelical-lutherans-back-same-sex-marriage-126053333.html|title=Evangelical Lutherans back same-sex marriage|website=www.winnipegfreepress.com|date=23 July 2011 |access-date=2016-04-23|archive-date=2016-04-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160428112833/http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/life/faith/evangelical-lutherans-back-same-sex-marriage-126053333.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and the [[Canadian Unitarian Council]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cuc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/cucbrochures_welcomingcongregation.pdf|title=Welcoming Congregation Program|access-date=5 October 2024|work=Canadian Unitarian Council}}</ref>

==Public opinion==
A 2017 [[CROP (polling firm)|CROP]] poll showed that Quebec had the highest popular support for same-sex marriage in Canada, at 80%. Nationwide, 74% of Canadians found it "great that in Canada, two people of the same sex can get married", while 26% disagreed.<ref>[https://sondage.crop.ca/survey/start/CAWI/blogue/19-tabl-En.pdf I find it great that in our society, two people of the same sex can get married, CROP Panorama]</ref><ref>[https://www.crop.ca/en/blog/2017/207/ Are you in favour of same-sex marriage? 74% of Canadians and 80% of Quebecers support it (and Death in Venice by Benjamin Britten)]</ref>

==See also==
*[[Same-sex marriage in Canada]]
*[[LGBT rights in Canada]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{cite web|url=http://www.religioustolerance.org/hom_marb4.htm|title=Same-sex marriage in Quebec, Canada|work=Religious Tolerance|archive-date=17 March 2021|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210317060604/http://www.religioustolerance.org/hom_marb4.htm}}
*{{cite CanLII|litigants=Catholic Civil Rights League v. Hendricks|year=2004|format=canlii|court=QCCA|num=20538|date=19 March 2004}}

{{LGBT in Canada}}

[[Category:LGBTQ in Quebec]]
[[Category:Same-sex marriage in Canada by province or territory|Quebec]]
[[Category:Politics of Quebec]]
[[Category:Quebec law]]
[[Category:2004 in LGBTQ history]]

[[es:Matrimonio entre personas del mismo sexo en Quebec]]