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| S Africa approves same-sex unions | S Africa approves same-sex unions |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| South Africa's parliament has voted to legalise same-sex weddings - the first African country to approve such unions. | South Africa's parliament has voted to legalise same-sex weddings - the first African country to approve such unions. |
| The controversial Civil Union bill was passed by 230 votes to 41. | The controversial Civil Union bill was passed by 230 votes to 41. |
| The legislation was introduced after the Constitutional Court ruled last year that the existing laws discriminated against homosexuals. | The legislation was introduced after the Constitutional Court ruled last year that the existing laws discriminated against homosexuals. |
| The ruling African National Congress ordered all MPs to turn up and vote for the bill, despite the opposition of church and traditional leaders. | The ruling African National Congress ordered all MPs to turn up and vote for the bill, despite the opposition of church and traditional leaders. |
| The bill provides for the "voluntary union of two persons, which is solemnised and registered by either a marriage or civil union". | The bill provides for the "voluntary union of two persons, which is solemnised and registered by either a marriage or civil union". |
| The existing Marriage Act defines a marriage as a "union between a man and a woman". | The existing Marriage Act defines a marriage as a "union between a man and a woman". |
| Three-line whip | Three-line whip |
| During the debate before the vote, Home Affairs Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula told MPs: "In breaking with our past... we need to fight and resist all forms of discrimination and prejudice, including homophobia." | During the debate before the vote, Home Affairs Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula told MPs: "In breaking with our past... we need to fight and resist all forms of discrimination and prejudice, including homophobia." |
| The priest and imam both know us and so were OK to give us a blessing but they said clearly that our union was not a marriage Midi AchmatSouth African lesbian href="/1/hi/world/africa/6147384.stm" class="">To wed or not? href="/1/hi/world/americas/4081999.stm" class="">Gay marriage around the globe But, Cardinal Wilfrid Napier, president of the South African Catholic Bishop's Conference, said the bill would be a blow against democracy. | |
| "The impression we got is that there is overwhelming opposition to this bill from people throughout South Africa," he told South Africa's Daily News before the vote. | "The impression we got is that there is overwhelming opposition to this bill from people throughout South Africa," he told South Africa's Daily News before the vote. |
| However, some gay rights activists have also criticised the bill, because it gives officials the right not to perform same-sex wedding ceremonies if this would conflict with their "conscience, religion and belief". | However, some gay rights activists have also criticised the bill, because it gives officials the right not to perform same-sex wedding ceremonies if this would conflict with their "conscience, religion and belief". |
| In the face of such strong feelings, the ANC had issued a three-line whip, instructing all MPs to vote in favour of the bill. | In the face of such strong feelings, the ANC had issued a three-line whip, instructing all MPs to vote in favour of the bill. |
| The ANC has a huge majority in parliament. | The ANC has a huge majority in parliament. |
| Last year, the Constitutional Court gave the government until 1 December 2006 to legalise same-sex weddings, after gay rights activists took the issue to court. | Last year, the Constitutional Court gave the government until 1 December 2006 to legalise same-sex weddings, after gay rights activists took the issue to court. |
| The ruling was based on the constitution, which was the first in the world specifically to outlaw discrimination on the grounds of sexual preference. | The ruling was based on the constitution, which was the first in the world specifically to outlaw discrimination on the grounds of sexual preference. |