Ontario’s openly gay premier welcomes U.S. Supreme Court ruling on same-sex marriage

TORONTO – Canada’s only openly gay premier is welcoming today’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling that strikes down federal provision denying benefits to married same-sex couples.

Ontario’s Kathleen Wynne tweeted after the historic court decision to say how happy she was “for our neighbours to the south and proud that Ontario led the way.”

The U.S. case was spearheaded by 83-year-old Edith Windsor, a New Yorker, who married partner Thea Spyer six years ago in Canada, where same-sex marriage has been legal for a decade.

The couple’s marriage was recognized by New York state, but not by the U.S. federal government.

In another Tweet, Wynne called the court ruling “an important step” for the United States, and included a link to a video in which the Ontario premier talks about marching in Toronto’s huge gay Pride Parade this weekend.

Today’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling gives American spouses in same-sex unions the same federal benefits as heterosexual couples.