MPs have approved extending legislation to protect gays and lesbians from hate speech.  Bill C-250, sponsored by New Democrat MP Svend Robinson, urged including sexual orientation into the country's hate propaganda law in the Criminal Code.

While it's rare for a private member's bill to pass, Robinson's bill was approved by a vote of 143-110. The MP has fought for the inclusion since 1981.

"It's been a good week for equality in Canada," an emotional Robinson said outside the Commons. "I feel proud to be a Canadian.''

While most of the NDP and half the Tory caucus supported the bill, at least three dozen Liberals voted against it, underscoring once again the divisions within the party.

Current anti-hate legislation, passed in 1970, bans inciting hatred against an "identifiable" group that can be defined by colour, race, religion or ethnic origin. Those convicted of hate crimes are subject to sentences of up to five years.

Robinson asked that the legislation also offer protection to gays and lesbians.

"If we say it's wrong to promote hatred and violence on the basis of race, or religion, or ethnic origin, or colour, surely we should say it's just as wrong to promote violence on the basis of sexual orientation," explained Robinson ahead of the vote.

"This is about homophobia, fundamentally. It's about members of the Canadian Alliance and sadly, a number of Liberal backbenchers, who aren't prepared to say hate propaganda rules should be inclusive," he said.

He added that it's also about sending a message about the death of gay men like Aaron Webster, who was beaten to death with a baseball bat in Vancouver.

Robinson, who is openly gay, says he regularly receives hateful e-mails. Tory MP Scott Brison, who came out of the closet last winter, says he too has been verbally threatened and physically attacked for being gay.

Opponents of the bill argued the legislation would hinder free speech. The Canadian Christian College took out newspaper ads across the country warning passages of the Bible could be criminalized. Members of the group participated in prayer vigils in early September, also urging MPs not to change the definition of marriage.

In an effort  to appease their concerns, Robinson added an amendment Wednesday afternoon which made it clear opinions expressed on religious beliefs would be exempt from the legislation.

The Canadian Unitarian Council was one religious group that urged support for the bill.

"As a religious organization, the CUC especially challenges the arguments made by some that Bill C-250 would make texts like the Bible illegal, or that people could be prosecuted for holding opinions critical of sexual minorities based on their religious beliefs. The Charter of Rights and the Criminal Code already protect freedom of religious expression," a letter on the CUC website said.

The bill now goes to the Senate for passage.

The bill came a day after Parliament defeated an Alliance motion calling for Ottawa to preserve the traditional definition of marriage. But the vote was close, with only five votes separating the two sides. More than 50 Liberals -- nearly a third of the caucus -- voted with the Opposition in favour of the motion, highlighting the deep divisions within the party.

The Alliance motion called on Parliament to "take all necessary steps" to keep the current definition of marriage as the union of one man and one woman.

Analysts viewed the motion as largely symbolic and say a vote on changing the marriage laws is still a year away.