South Africa legalizes gay marriage
By: Camie Tyler
South Africa legalized gay marriage Dec. 1, 2005. This
makes South Africa the fifth country in the world to
legalize gay marriage. The highest court ruled that it is
unconstitutional to bar gay marriages
(www.msnbc.com). The country’s constitution guarantees
individuals the freedom of religion, expression and
demonstration, and the right to sexual orientation.
According to Human Rights Watch, South Africa is the
first country in the world to guarantee rights to sexual
orientations. This is a huge step forward in a place where
being homosexual is largely taboo.
South Africa did not have the same backlash against gay marriage as we have experienced in the United States. Some would say it is because they have bigger issues to deal with, for example equality. South Africa’s unemployment rate among the black population is very high; it is estimated at around 40 percent (www.sfgate.com).
AIDS is another challenge this country is facing. The United Nations estimates that more than 5 million South Africans are HIV positive. This is higher than any other country. The vast majority of people who are HIV positive are heterosexual. The numbers keep rising despite the government’s encouragement of condom use and being faithful to one partner (www.sfgate.com).
This does not mean that South Africa does not have some issues dealing with violence against homosexuals. Many still hear anti-gay slurs from the public, and hateful statements from church leaders. Lesbians are raped and the rapist thinks he is “curing” her. Gays are frequently beaten and raped.
To put it in perspective how far South Africa has come compared to the other countries in Africa, take Zimbabwe. President Robert Mugabe called homosexuals “worse than pigs and dogs.” A Namibian minister urged a group of police to “eliminate” gays and lesbians from the country. These statements are coming from the leaders, whereas South Africa’s leaders, for the most part, appear to be in support of gays and lesbians.
Sharon Cox, a South African citizen, stated that she feels they have come a long way, commenting that, “I’ve found in my own personal experience that it is easier now than ever before to live as an openly gay person.” This is a milestone for gay marriage not only in South Africa, but around the world. After the law goes into effect Cox and her partner of 16 years, plan to marry.