Gay couple involved in historic case celebrates 10th anniversary

Saskatchewan's first gay couple to be married in the province is celebrating a special milestone.

Lisa and Erin Beckwell of Saskatoon have been married for 10 years. 

They were the first gay couple to tie the knot after a landmark court decision on Nov. 5, 2004 that established that same-sex civil marriages were legal in the province.

"It finally came true...it was kind of surreal, hard to believe it was actually happening, and that we were part of something so historic," Erin Beckwell said in a recent interview with Radio-Canada.

"Just to have the piece of paper saying that we can do it and it's not just for certain people — it's for everyone," Lisa Beckwell said.

The Beckwells were among five Saskatchewan couples who challenged the province in court after being initially refused a marriage licence. They won the case after the government said it wouldn't oppose the application and the judge ruled in their favour.

Attitudes toward same-sex marriage were different then, but there's more acceptance today, Erin said.

"That just didn't fit in their world at all," she said. "I think it seems now more people are aware that not everyone who's married is married to someone of the opposite sex." 

They are one of 155 same-sex couples that have been married in Saskatchewan since the 2004 decision.

The federal government changed its legislation in July 2005 making same-sex marriage legal across the country.