SOUTH AFRICA
Same-sex marriage legalized
By
LeiLani Dowell
Published Dec 10, 2006 9:20 PM
South Africa became the first African country and the fifth
country worldwide to legalize same-sex marriage on Nov. 30.
The government was forced to enact legislation on same-sex
marriage after the country’s highest court gave it a year,
expiring Dec. 1, to change laws that denied lesbian, gay, bi and
trans couples the same constitutional rights as heterosexual
couples.
Home Affairs Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula said, “In
breaking with our past ... [we] need to fight and resist all
forms of discrimination and prejudice, including
homophobia.” (iafrica.com, Nov. 14)
The first legal gay marriage took place the next day, when Vernon
Gibbs and Tony Halls were married on World AIDS Day,
Dec. 1. Vernon Halls-Gibbs told the BBC, “This marriage ...
is for all HIV/AIDS sufferers and gay people who have experienced
discrimination.” (BBC, Dec. 1)
E-mail: ldowell@workers.org
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