Gay marriages soon!


Gay and lesbian organisations took the last legal step in their 10-year journey towards equal rights on Thursday when they filed a court application to have same-sex marriages recognised.

"Recognition of (same-sex) marriages will eradicate unfair legal restrictions against lesbian and gay people and assist in removing the stigma associated with the community," said Evert Knoesen, director of the Lesbian and Gay Equality Project, on Friday.

The application was filed by the Equality Project and 18 other applicants in the Johannesburg High Court.

It argues that the Marriage Act of 1961, which expressly prohibits same-sex couples from entering into the institution of civil marriage, is unconstitutional.