South Africa becomes first African country to legalize gay marriage
South Africa has joined four other nations in legalizing same sex marriage. The Civil Union Act goes into effect one day before the december first deadline set by the country’s Constitutional Court. Gay rights groups are welcoming the law, although they have criticized provisions that allow clergy and civil marriage officers to turn away gay couples if their consciences prevent them from marrying them. The other four countries that allow same sex marriages to date are; Canada, Belgium, the Netherlands and Spain.
I found this article rather important considering Massachuetts is the only state in our nation that allows same sex marriage and even then, I’m sure their is some type of restrictions. It’s sad that our country claims to have a seperation of church and state yet, most decisions are influenced or based on religion. We denounce Muslims for basing law on religion, yet we do it ourselves. I’m a christian and I understand my faith, but I disagree with how religious officials interpret the writings. People tend to misunderstand a lot. Islam is not a “bad” religion, it’s the people who interpret and convince an audience that this is the “right way” to read it. I believe in the middle ages, catholic priests use to tell illiterate peasants that if they did not donate a certain percentage of their income to the church, they would go to hell. People misuse their power so much. It sickens me to see people misusing religious, politicial or social power. Truthfully, no one knows for sure if we do things the way god would want. Causing happy couples to suffer and be miserable just because they are doing something you don’t approve of is wrong.
“There will be a huge response from same sex couples who have waited
such a long time for their relationship to be recognized,” said Melanie
Judge, a program manager for the South Africa-based lesbian and gay
rights group, OUT
sduda1220 said,
December 4, 2006 at 7:55 pm
Its sad to think that if a gay couple gets married in massachusetts that their marriage won’t be recognized in other states. so whats the point?
i’m glad to see that other countries allow it. i’m not gay, but i do believe that people have the right to be with whatever sex makes them happy. i’m a catholic and i’m suppose to believe that gay marriage is wrong, but who’s to say that adam didn’t have a thing for gabriel when he and eve were hooking up. people can’t help how they feel. its wrong for the US to say what it right and what it wrong when it comes to love and marriage.
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