South Africa's high court approves gay marriage

11-14-2006, 06:26 PM

I am so ashamed of the US right now... we are hicks and deserve the rep now.

South Africa's high court approves gay marriage
Decision paves way for homosexual unions, a first for the continent

Updated: 8:46 a.m. ET Dec 1, 2005
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa - South Africa's highest court ruled Thursday it is unconstitutional to bar gay marriage, paving the way for this country to become the first in Africa to legalize homosexual unions.

Gay rights activists welcomed the ruling on a continent where homosexuality remains largely taboo.

In its ruling, the court gave the country's parliament a year to change the legal definition of marriage to include same-sex couples.

"We were thinking we would be calling our friends today and inviting them to our wedding," said Fikile Vilakazi, of the Forum for the Empowerment of Women, who proposed to her partner more than six months ago. "Now they are asking us to wait another year."

South Africa recognized the rights of gay people in the constitution adopted after apartheid ended in 1994, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. But married couples have numerous rights still denied gay couples, including the ability to make decisions on each other's behalf in medical emergencies, and inheritance rights if a partner dies without a will.

Marriage is defined in South Africa's common law and Marriage Act as a union between a man and a woman. The Constitutional Court has instructed Parliament to add the words "or spouse" to the definition within a year, or else the change will automatically be effected by the courts.

© 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

9th Engineer · 11-16-2006, 08:49 AM

And what rep is that exactly?

ashke · 11-16-2006, 09:41 AM

Good for them! Now... for the rest of the world...

Ibby · 11-16-2006, 04:41 PM

Its sad that an African nation is more progressive and free than America is.

11-17-2006, 02:13 AM

^ That rep.

9th Engineer · 11-17-2006, 08:51 PM

With all the other shit we need to fix around here, gays being able to make medical decisions for each other ranks pretty low on the list of importance. Unless you talk to a liberal politician of course, in which case it's far more deserving of our attention than other things they'd rather we not pay attention to. Patterns anyone?

Ibby · 11-17-2006, 11:38 PM

I'd say basic human rights and equality ranks pretty damn high on MY list of what needs fixing around here.

11-17-2006, 11:44 PM

It is a symptom of how little we care for the basics when it comes to human rights.
We used to lead the world in compassion, now we are the measure of how not to be.

piercehawkeye45 · 11-18-2006, 01:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ibram

Its sad that an African nation is more progressive and free than America is.

Yes, because America is so much better than Africa in every way...right?

Ibby · 11-18-2006, 07:56 AM

No, but America has a history of (and often brags about) supposed progressiveness and freedom, and for the most part, lots of African nations... well, don't.

11-18-2006, 08:09 AM

Within my lifetime, South Africa was a slave state... now they lead us in progressive policy, while we have fallen to the point to resembling Germany/Russia of the twenties and thirties in many/most ways.
That is my point.

Flint · 11-18-2006, 10:16 AM

I thought it was obvious...for whatever that's worth...

Happy Monkey · 11-18-2006, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 9th Engineer

With all the other shit we need to fix around here, gays being able to make medical decisions for each other ranks pretty low on the list of importance. Unless you talk to a conservative politician of course, in which case it's far more deserving of our attention than other things they'd rather we not pay attention to. Patterns anyone?

Corrected.

I'd be happy if liberal politicians were on the ball, but at the moment it's only the activists.

9th Engineer · 11-18-2006, 02:22 PM

Marriage isn't a human right, it's a fairness issue, but not a human rights issue.

Happy Monkey · 11-18-2006, 02:31 PM

Well, that's OK then.

11-14-2006, 06:26 PM	#1
rkzenrage Guest Posts: n/a	South Africa's high court approves gay marriage I am so ashamed of the US right now... we are hicks and deserve the rep now. South Africa's high court approves gay marriage Decision paves way for homosexual unions, a first for the continent Updated: 8:46 a.m. ET Dec 1, 2005 JOHANNESBURG, South Africa - South Africa's highest court ruled Thursday it is unconstitutional to bar gay marriage, paving the way for this country to become the first in Africa to legalize homosexual unions. Gay rights activists welcomed the ruling on a continent where homosexuality remains largely taboo. In its ruling, the court gave the country's parliament a year to change the legal definition of marriage to include same-sex couples. "We were thinking we would be calling our friends today and inviting them to our wedding," said Fikile Vilakazi, of the Forum for the Empowerment of Women, who proposed to her partner more than six months ago. "Now they are asking us to wait another year." South Africa recognized the rights of gay people in the constitution adopted after apartheid ended in 1994, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. But married couples have numerous rights still denied gay couples, including the ability to make decisions on each other's behalf in medical emergencies, and inheritance rights if a partner dies without a will. Marriage is defined in South Africa's common law and Marriage Act as a union between a man and a woman. The Constitutional Court has instructed Parliament to add the words "or spouse" to the definition within a year, or else the change will automatically be effected by the courts. © 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

11-16-2006, 08:49 AM	#2
9th Engineer Bioengineer and aspiring lawer Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 872	And what rep is that exactly? __________________ The most valuable renewable resource is stupidity.

11-16-2006, 04:41 PM	#4
Ibby erika Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: "the high up north" Posts: 6,127	Its sad that an African nation is more progressive and free than America is. __________________ not really back, you didn't see me, i was never here shhhhhh

11-17-2006, 08:51 PM	#6
9th Engineer Bioengineer and aspiring lawer Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 872	With all the other shit we need to fix around here, gays being able to make medical decisions for each other ranks pretty low on the list of importance. Unless you talk to a liberal politician of course, in which case it's far more deserving of our attention than other things they'd rather we not pay attention to. Patterns anyone? __________________ The most valuable renewable resource is stupidity.

11-17-2006, 11:38 PM	#7
Ibby erika Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: "the high up north" Posts: 6,127	I'd say basic human rights and equality ranks pretty damn high on MY list of what needs fixing around here. __________________ not really back, you didn't see me, i was never here shhhhhh

11-16-2006, 09:41 AM	#3
ashke Don't look at me! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Singapore Posts: 288	Good for them! Now... for the rest of the world...

11-17-2006, 02:13 AM	#5
rkzenrage Guest Posts: n/a	^ That rep.

11-17-2006, 11:44 PM	#8
rkzenrage Guest Posts: n/a	It is a symptom of how little we care for the basics when it comes to human rights. We used to lead the world in compassion, now we are the measure of how not to be.

11-18-2006, 07:56 AM	#10
Ibby erika Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: "the high up north" Posts: 6,127	No, but America has a history of (and often brags about) supposed progressiveness and freedom, and for the most part, lots of African nations... well, don't. __________________ not really back, you didn't see me, i was never here shhhhhh

11-18-2006, 08:09 AM	#11
rkzenrage Guest Posts: n/a	Within my lifetime, South Africa was a slave state... now they lead us in progressive policy, while we have fallen to the point to resembling Germany/Russia of the twenties and thirties in many/most ways. That is my point.

11-18-2006, 10:16 AM	#12
Flint Snowflake Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Dystopia Posts: 13,136	I thought it was obvious...for whatever that's worth... __________________ **************** There's a level of facility that everyone needs to accomplish, and from there it's a matter of deciding for yourself how important ultra-facility is to your expression. ... I found, like Joseph Campbell said, if you just follow whatever gives you a little joy or excitement or awe, then you're on the right track. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Terry Bozzio**

11-18-2006, 02:22 PM	#14
9th Engineer Bioengineer and aspiring lawer Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 872	Marriage isn't a human right, it's a fairness issue, but not a human rights issue. __________________ The most valuable renewable resource is stupidity.

11-18-2006, 02:31 PM	#15
Happy Monkey I think this line's mostly filler. Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: DC Posts: 13,575	Well, that's OK then. __________________ _________________ \|...............\| We live in the nick of times. \| Len 17, Wid 3 \| \|_______________\| [pics]

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