Since gay marriage had become legal in Canada in 2004 THOUSANDS of American same sex couples have flocked to our northern neighbor to get married. 

 Now in a shocking reversal  the Canadian government, has issued a statement that those marriages are now NOT LEGAL if the couples had no right to marry in their home countries.

The Harper government has served notice that thousands of same-sex couples who flocked to Canada from abroad since 2004 to get married are not legally wed. The reversal of federal policy is revealed in a document filed in a Toronto test case launched recently by a lesbian couple seeking a divorce. Wed in Toronto in 2005, the couple have been told they cannot divorce because they were never really married – a Department of Justice lawyer says their marriage is not legal in Canada since they could not have lawfully wed in Florida or England, where the two partners reside.

The government’s hard line has cast sudden doubt on the rights and legal status of couples who wed in Canada after a series of court decisions opened the floodgates to same-sex marriage. The mechanics of determining issues such as tax status, employment benefits and immigration have been thrown into legal limbo. The two women – professionals in the their early 30s – cannot be identified under a court order. But Martha McCarthy, a prominent Toronto lawyer who represents them, said the government’s about-face is astonishing

The Harper government is very conservative (which just proves conservatives ANYWHERE are homophobic pieces of shit)  But bear in mind that Canada actively promoted the marriages, and issued them.  The Canadian Supreme Court ill likely overturn this.

I also hope that Harpers Canadian goverment  has the hundreds of thousands of dollars on hand to refund all marriage license costs in the interim.

Expect many reactions and press releases from not only gay rights organizations but also right wingnut religious extremists throughout the day.