South African Parliament Approves Gay Marriages

[Daniel]

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/14/wo...rtner=homepage

JOHANNESBURG, Nov. 14 — South Africa’s Parliament overwhelmingly voted today to legalize same-sex marriages, making the nation the first in Africa and the fifth in the world to remove legal barriers to gay and lesbian unions, according to activists.

The legislature voted after the nation’s highest court ruled that South Africa’s marriages statutes violated the constitution’s guarantee of equal rights. The court gave the government a year to amend the legal definition of marriage. That deadline expires in two weeks.

and

“This has been a litmus test of our constitutional values,” she said in a telephone interview. “What does equality really mean? What does it look like? Equality does not exist on a sliding scale.”

Separate is NOT equal. Neither in South Africa or here. What are we waiting for America?

[Giancarlo]

Ack, you got to this before I did...heheh..

South Africa knows in heart that separate IS NEVER equal. They are just over a decade out of Apartheid, and they are further ahead then America. Remember, it took only a few years for South Africa to integrate its Armed Forces. You know how long it took America? Perhaps over a century.

I really think the US is so utterly slow to adapt to equal rights. Some people in this country think they are special and deserve all the rights, while gays and lesbians deserve nothing. Certainly we have made astounding progress in the last thirty years, and the younger generations show many signs of being way more accepting then previous ones... but this country still has aging fanatics ranting about their traditional values and how gays and lesbians are not entitled to equal rights. This sort of conservative fanaticism is slowly withering away.

[Nico Kleynhans]

It is appropriate that our Government seeks to provide equality for all. It is appropriate that we ensure that never again do we allow our country to develop into a cesspool of hate and predujice.

It is appropriate that we open our doors to those refugees of Africa who need a safe place. I imagine that many more Gay Refugees will enter our country.

Having won the legal battle.......the mind battle continues.

I still find unbelievable hate speech when speaking on talk shows. Sadely the most angry responses coming from fellow Christians.

[Daniel]

Originally Posted by Nico Kleynhans

It is appropriate that our Government seeks to provide equality for all. It is appropriate that we ensure that never again do we allow our country to develop into a cesspool of hate and predujice.

It is appropriate that we open our doors to those refugees of Africa who need a safe place. I imagine that many more Gay Refugees will enter our country.

Having won the legal battle.......the mind battle continues.

I still find unbelievable hate speech when speaking on talk shows. Sadely the most angry responses coming from fellow Christians.

Thank you for your words here- they are very welcome. I am so proud of your people- you made my heart glad all day today.

Yes- it is very sad that angry words still come from those who call themselves Christian- words that are directed towards gay persons. However, your presence and words ensure that the 'mind battle' is coming to an end.