pictured Rob Nicholson, the Attorney General of Canada

Commentary:  In the April and May issues of 10,000 Couples, I raised the question Is Marriage, By Any Other Name, Still Marriage and told you the heartbreaking story of a couple whose civil union in the UK was not recognized in Canada. Since May, the story has taken on international attention, which may have serious repercussions for Canada in the future.

In my earlier articles, I had been asked not to divulge the names of the parties involved, but now I have been granted permission to use their real names. 

I have been in frequent contact with Mr. Wayne Hincks (pictured below, left), the man who was physically and mentally abused by his partner, then thrown out on the street without his personal belongings and with his bank account emptied. The home he had bought, together with his spouse Mr. Gerardo Gallardo, is for now the sole property of Gallardo, due to the fact that Canada does not recognize their UK civil union. Canadian courts have refused to grant Mr. Hincks a divorce, or a share in the home. It now seems that the only person who can turn that decision around is the Attorney General of Canada. Unfortunately, the Attorney General has been reluctant to act in this case for the time being.

By John "Jasz" Szlachetka, Feature Author

John Szlachetka, also known as Jasz to many of his friends, has been an activist, speaker, and writer for LGBT rights, for a number of years.  A former high school teacher, he has seen the discrimination and bullying  LGBT youth face everyday.   He himself has lived through discrimination and homophobia both from his family and society in general.  This has made him stronger and more determined to fight for the equality of his LGBT brothers and sisters.   Besides his activism, he also councels LGBT couples with problems that arise in their relationships.  He is also a pastor for the Universal Life Church.    When he is not marrying couples, he is saving them from crisis.   You can also find him in many different facebook groups, fighting along side his LGBT brothers and sisters. 

As a member of the 10,000 couples team, Jasz hopes to promote both the e-magazine, and to to bring more couples into our 10,000 couples family.  Now that Same-Sex-Marriage has become an important subject world wide, he wants bring together everyone in the LGBT community to fight for the rights of our community.