TORONTO - It was 10 years ago today that the first legal same-sex marriage took place in Canada.

Michael Leshner and Michael Stark were wed in a civil ceremony in Toronto just hours after Ontario's Court of Appeal pronounced the Canadian law on traditional marriage unconstitutional.

Many other provinces soon followed suit and two years later, the federal government legalized same-sex marriage nationwide with the gender-neutral Civil Marriage Act.

Leshner says he and his husband won full equality on the day they were legally wed.

He says their case -- quote -- drove the stake through the heart of legalized homophobia.

The couple continues to encourage those who feel marginalized to fight for their rights.