Feb

22

Gay Activist, Rev. Dr. Brent Hawkes Receives Order of Canada!

Filed Under GLBT Equality, Gay Awards, Life, Religion 

TORONTO, — The Rev. Dr. Brent Hawkes, gay activist and senior pastor of the Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto, was invested as a member of the Order of Canada on Friday, February 22, 2008.

The Order of Canada is Canada’s highest civilian honour. Created in 1967, the Order of Canada recognizes a lifetime of outstanding achievement, dedication to community and service to the nation. Over the last 40 years, more than 5,000 people from all sectors of society have been invested into the Order.

“To my knowledge, Rev. Dr. Hawkes, is the only person to receive their country’s highest honour in recognition of their gay activism,” said Douglas Elliott, founding president of the International Lesbian and Gay Law Association.

Rev. Dr. Hawkes, now Rev. Dr. Hawkes (C.M.) has been a champion of human rights and social justice for decades, and is a leading advocate in the struggle for equality of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered persons. A man of fearless conviction, he presided over Canada’s first legal wedding of a same sex couple - also the first in the world - and has continued to call for tolerance, understanding and respect for all Canadians. Rev. Dr. Hawkes has previously been honoured with the City of Toronto’s Award of Merit, the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal, the United Nations Toronto Association Global Citizen Award and the YMCA Peace Medal.

On December 10, 2000, Rev. Brent Hawkes reads the first “banns” for two same-sex couples. Hawkes said that if the banns are read on three Sundays before the wedding, he can legally marry the couples. Hawkes dismissed objections during the second reading and went ahead anyway.

Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaelle Jean, Governor General of Canada, presided over the 101st Order of Canada investiture ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa, which began at 10:30 a.m. on Friday.

Sources: (CNW/Metropolitan Community Church and the CBC Archives)

Related Links:
- Metropolitan Community Church Toronto
- The Order of Canada
- 365Gay: Pastor Credited With Canadian Gay Marriage Win Receives Highest National Honor
- Chrétien receives Order of Canada (Rev. Hawkes briefly mentioned)

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