It’s okay to be gay… in South Africa
South Africa has become the first Africa nation to legalize same-sex unions. The Civil Union Bill, which was passed by 230 votes to 41 in parliament, provides for “the solemnisation of civil partnerships” of people 18 and over. The bill defines a civil partnership as “the voluntary union of two adult persons of the same sex” and states that a “marriage officer may solemnise a union between two adult persons of the same sex”. Marriage officers are not compelled by the bill to perform civil unions but they must have “informed the Minister in writing that he or she objects on grounds of conscience”. Knowing how conservative much of the nation is, the Minister of Home Affairs could be receiving a lot of letters…