Gay Activist to receive "ORDER OF CANADA"

REV. DR. BRENT HAWKES TO RECEIVE ORDER OF CANADA
CANADA BECOMES THE FIRST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD TO BESTOW ITS HIGHEST CIVILIAN HONOUR ON A GAY ACTIVIST

Toronto, ON – The Rev. Dr. Brent Hawkes, gay activist and senior pastor of the Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto, will be 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 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.
Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada, will preside over the 101st Order of Canada investiture ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa, which begins at 10:30 a.m on Friday.