South African cabinet OKs marriage

South African cabinet OKs marriage
Copyright by The Chicago Free Press
August 30, 2006

South Africa’s cabinet OKed legislation to give equal marriage rights to gay and lesbian couples last week, moving the government closer to complying with a ruling last December by South Africa’s highest court.

The court gave the South African Parliament one year to legalize same-sex marriage.

“Basically the bill will legalize same-sex marriage in compliance with the constitutional court ruling,” government spokesman Themba Maseko said last week.

Maseko did not say when the legislation would be presented to the country’s parliament.

By approving the bill, South Africa would join the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Canada and Massachusetts in allowing marriage for gays and lesbians.