FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
5 December 2005
Equal Marriage Rights for South Africa
Australian Marriage
Equality (AME) has welcomed confirmation from the
South African Government that it will respect the
judgement of the Constitutional Court on 1 December
2005 in favour of same sex marriage.
"We are delighted
at the news that South Africa will soon join the
ranks of a growing number of nations which have
extended equal marriage rights to all their
citizens", said AME national spokesperson, Peter
Furness.
The court ordered
that the definition of marriage be changed from a
"union between a man and a woman" to a "union
between two persons", giving parliament one year to
amend the laws.
If not done in
time, the relevant sections of the Act would
automatically be read so as to take away the legal
requirement that a marriage be between a man and a
woman.
The South African
constitution specifically outlaws discrimination on
the grounds of sexuality.
Government
spokesperson, Joel Netshitenze, said that "the
Department of Home Affairs will assess what
practical steps will be needed to give effect to the
change in the law and make appropriate
recommendations to the minister."
A statement from
the African National Congress stated: "Today's
ruling, like others before it, is an important step
forward in aligning the laws of the country with the
rights and freedoms contained in the South African
Constitution".
Anglican Archbishop
Njongonkulu Ndungane reaffirmed the Anglican
Church's position that a partnership between two
persons of the same sex could not be considered a
marriage in the eyes of God.
Nevertheless,
Ndungane said that "this ruling does not compel any
religious denomination or minister of religion to
approve or perform same sex marriages, therefore it
should not cause alarm," Ndungane said.
"It would be
arrogant and presumptuous of us to attempt to force
our values and viewpoints on people who think
differently from us. We would wish to value
diversity in the way demonstrated today by the
Constitutional Court."
AME Spokesperson,
Peter Furness, said that equal marriage rights in
Australia "cannot come soon enough".
"During next year's
Commonwealth Games, we will pay an enormous insult
to athletes and visitors from an increasing number
of countries who are either married or have entered
into legal 'civil unions'.
"The moment such
couples from Canada, South Africa, the United
Kingdom or New Zealand set foot in our country, we
will simply refuse to recognise their relationships.
"What an
embarrassment. Australia is fast becoming the odd
one out, stubbornly refusing to treat its own people
and those who come here as our guests with basic
decency and respect", said Furness.
South Africa will
now join Belgium, Canada, the Netherlands and Spain
in providing equal marriage rights to same sex
couples.
