S.Africa pushes gay marriage law
CAPE TOWN (Reuters) - South Africa's upper house of parliament passed a bill on Tuesday to legalise gay marriage, overruling religious groups and conservative leaders who said the country was dangerously out of step with African tradition.The National Council of Provinces voted with a clear majority to pass the Civil Union Bill, which the ruling African National Congress (ANC) this month pushed through the legislature's lower house.
President Thabo Mbeki must now sign the law by Friday to comply with a ruling from South Africa's top court to extend equal marriage protection to same-sex couples.
Mbeki's signature will make South Africa one of a handful of countries to recognise gay marriage, and the first to do so in Africa, where public opinion is often bitterly opposed to homosexuality.
Home Affairs Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, reacting to serious reservations about gay marriage even among senior ANC members, said the government wanted to abide by the country's post-apartheid constitution, one of the most liberal in the world.
"It's just that the Constitutional Court has reminded us about our responsibility," she told Reuters.
The Constitutional Court last year set a December 1 deadline for South Africa to revise its marriage laws to include same sex partnerships, saying the law would be changed automatically if parliament did not act.
The ruling sparked angry debate in South Africa, which still has strong religious and conservative traditions.
INFURIATE THE GODS
"According to black African culture, the marriage of a male to another male or a female to another female is taboo. It is simply not done lest we infuriate the gods," said Johannes Tlhagale of the United Christian Democratic Party, one of a number of small opposition parties ranged against the bill.
Religious groups had sought to block the legislation, asking the government to consider holding a referendum.
"By approving this legislation, this house is at odds with the wishes of a majority of South Africans," said Inkatha Freedom Party MP Jeanette Vilakazi.
Mapisa-Nqakula, who has spearheaded government efforts to change the law, said traditional concepts of "Africanness" might have to change.
"What is African, that is the question. Society evolves, transforms, situations change ... and I think this is one such occasion where we see a radical change of society."
Mapisa-Nqakula, who identified herself as a committed Christian, said while South Africa could not impose its values across the continent it had demonstrated to other African countries "democracy at its best" by encouraging discussion on the issue with a view to protecting minority rights.
"Are we saying public policy should only be influenced by the majority and that minority rights should not be taken into consideration? This could have dire consequences," she said.
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By Wendell Roelf
posted by iamgay @ 7:58 AM
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