South African court legalizes ‘gay marriage’

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa — South Africa’s highest court Dec. 1 ordered the legislature to legalize “gay marriage,” putting the country on track to become the fifth nation worldwide to redefine marriage. The court gave South Africa’s Parliament 12 months to add homosexuals to the country’s marriage laws. If Parliament does not follow the court’s order, then “gay marriage,” nonetheless, will become legal in one year.

South Africa would join Canada, Spain, Belgium and the Netherlands as the only countries to grant marriage licenses to homosexual couples. The U.S. state of Massachusetts also recognizes “gay marriage.” South Africa’s Constitution bans discrimination on the basis of “sexual orientation.” The lawsuit was brought by a lesbian couple.   (TAB)