Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto invites all delegates, regardless of their religious beliefs, to their dynamic open air service at 11:00am on Church St. at Alexander St. Our program continues with our participation in Toronto's annual Pride Parade on Sunday June 26 at 2 p.m. It is one of the world's largest, attracting over 1 million participants and spectators. It is very apt to be holding our conference in conjunction with Pride Parade's 25^th silver anniversary. At 6 p.m., the City of Toronto welcomes delegates to City Hall, a masterpiece of modern architecture designed by Finnish architect Viljo Rewell. Join His Worship Mayor David Miller, openly gay city councillor Kyle Rae and other friends for wine, cheese and friendship. Toronto is proud to be the first city in Canada to outlaw discrimination based on sexual orientation beginning in 1973.

Monday June 27

Opening ceremonies at Flavelle Hall, a Gilded Age mansion that now houses the University of Toronto's Faculty of Law. Our keynote speech and plenary are on the them of the "Right to Live". Our opening speaker will be Mr. Justice Michael Kirby of the High Court of Australia, who will address "HIV and Human Rights: An International Perspective." Justice Kirby's remarks will be followed by the plenary panel. Workshops on conference themes will follow in the afternoon.

Today's plenary on our second theme, "Right to Sexuality", will be on the topic: "Challenging Sodomy Laws." International experts will discuss leading cases such as Toonen vs Australia, Lawrence v Texas, Dudgeon vs. UK, L. & V. vs. Austria and S.L. vs. Austria. The problems facing the Lawyers Collective in Mumbai, India, will also be highlighted. Following the afternoon workshops, delegates will have the option of attending a gala dinner hosted at the Royal Canadian Yacht Club (RCYC). We will meet at the RCYC dock, where the yacht club's launch will take us to the club's dining room located on Toronto Island. The view of the Toronto skyline from the island is not to be missed!

Wednesday June 29

For our final day and theme of "Right to Love", the conference venue starts at the Faculty of Law and then moves to "historic" Osgoode Hall for closing lunch. Historic, not just because it is Canada's finest example of Palladian architecture, but because this is where the famous Ontario marriage case was argued and won.

We will have the privilege of hearing an address on the Canadian Charter of Rights by Chief Justice McMurtry, one of the architects of the Charter and one of the authors of the famous marriage decision, Halpern. A panel discussion will follow, moderated by Douglas Elliott of Canada and Evan Wolfson of the USA. The Ontario marriage decision will be discussed by some of the key players, including one of the winning counsel, Martha McCarthy and her former opponent, former Attorney General of Canada Martin Cauchon.

Experts from other countries involved in the struggle for equal marriage in other nations, including Mary Bonauto of the USA and Kees Waaldijk of the Netherlands will then reflect on both the differences and the links between the various national efforts to achieve equal marriage. This program will include a question and answer session that promises to be very lively! We will conclude with a lunch at a location to be announced. Our keynote speaker is noted feminist E.J. Graff of USA.

For those wishing to do so, optional excursions to Niagara Falls will be available in the afternoon.

For those wishing to get married while in Toronto, the conference will be pleased to facilitate your marriage. Ontario does offer marriage to same sex couples regardless of their citizenship and place of residence.