Canada officially has a new gender-neutral national anthem

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A bill to change the wording in Canada’s national anthem passed third reading and was adopted in parliament today.

Known as Bill C210, the act changes the traditional line of the anthem from “in all thy sons command,” to the more gender-neutral “in all of us command.”

Bill #C210 has been adopted in the Senate at third reading: https://t.co/d9NSvFdwXb #SenCA #cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/eQ616r2rhs

— Senate of Canada (@SenateCA) January 31, 2018

Tonight, the @SenateCA passed #C210 creating a gender neutral anthem, recognizing Canada’s commitment to equality in our society and our institutions. My dear friend Mauril’s vision has been realized #inallofuscommand

— Mona Fortier (@MonaFortier) January 31, 2018

New Canadian national anthem

O Canada!
Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all of us command.
With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North strong and free!
From far and wide,
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

The bill was proposed by terminally ill Ottawa MP Mauril Bélanger in 2016.

The House of Commons passed Bélanger’s bill to adjust the lyrics in June of that year, 225-74.

Supporters of the bill had hoped to rush it through while Bélanger was still alive.

Bélanger was in attendance to see the victory, and to watch as the House then stood together to sing the anthem with the new gender-neutral lyrics.

However, Bélanger died in August at the age of 61, a year after being diagnosed with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.

There have been 11 previous attempts to change the same line to include all genders and Canadians.

New Canadian national anthem

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