South Africa to debate legalising gay marriages

SOWETO - For most of the continent, the subject is strictly taboo, but a parliamentary roadshow to discuss a bill to legalise gay marriage has highlighted an appetite for debate.

Public hearings over government bills are usually held in the

oak-panelled and carpet-lined committee rooms at the parliament's

headquarters in Cape Town.

But for the next few weeks, members of the public are being

given the chance to come face-to-face with lawmakers on their own

patch, including in the sprawling township of Soweto, on the

outskirts of Johannesburg.

 

For decades, Soweto was synonymous with the fight against the

apartheid regime when its black citizens were denied a voice in the

government of their country.

 

But in a small community centre in the heart of Soweto earlier

this week, scores of people turned up to join in an impassioned

debate on the civil union bill conducted in English, Zulu and

Sotho.

 

'IT'S A SHOCK' The government has had to introduce legislation

regulating same-sex partnerships after the country's highest court

ruled in December that existing laws unconstitutionally

discriminated against gays and lesbians by failing to guarantee

them the same rights as heterosexual couples.

 

All participants at the hearings are presented with a 10-page

draft of the bill, spelling out the proposals on what are termed

'civil partnerships'.

 

Patrick Chauke, a deputy from the ruling African National

Congress (ANC) and head of the parliament's home affairs committee,

took the chair for the hearing in Soweto.

 

"Whatever contribution you are going to make is going to be

taken into account," Chauke told the participants.

 

Bontle Setshogoe, a member of the ANC's women's league, was one

of the first to voice her objections to the proposed new law.

 

"As a black nation, for us it's a shock," she said.

 

"We have children who are growing up.

 

What are we supposed to say to these children?" Men and women of

all ages strode purposefully to the microphone in the centre of the

room to make their contribution to the debate.

 

"We come from a history of apartheid, a history of division and

segregation," said Fikile Vilakazi, a 32-year-old lesbian who was

wearing an orange t-shirt with the slogan "Equal marriage for all,

nothing less".

 

"When we say heterosexuals and homosexuals should use different

institutions ...

 

aren't we reintroducing that system of division and

segregation?" said Vilakazi.

 

"Why don't we just put all this under one marriage act?" Polar

opposite views came from a raft of religious groups who are

fiercely opposed to any suggestion of legalising gay marriage.

 

"We uncompromisingly believe that marriage should be between a

man and a woman," said Pastor Mosa Sono, from the Grace Bible

Church in Soweto.

 

"We find it very tragic that the bill has been rushed so much,

without ample participation from the people of South Africa."

 

Similar public debates are due to take place in the coming days

in eight other provinces before the new legislation is submitted

for parliamentary approval on October 20.

 

Nampa-AFP

 

But for the next few weeks, members of the public are being given

the chance to come face-to-face with lawmakers on their own patch,

including in the sprawling township of Soweto, on the outskirts of

Johannesburg.For decades, Soweto was synonymous with the fight

against the apartheid regime when its black citizens were denied a

voice in the government of their country.But in a small community

centre in the heart of Soweto earlier this week, scores of people

turned up to join in an impassioned debate on the civil union bill

conducted in English, Zulu and Sotho.'IT'S A SHOCK' The government

has had to introduce legislation regulating same-sex partnerships

after the country's highest court ruled in December that existing

laws unconstitutionally discriminated against gays and lesbians by

failing to guarantee them the same rights as heterosexual

couples.All participants at the hearings are presented with a

10-page draft of the bill, spelling out the proposals on what are

termed 'civil partnerships'.Patrick Chauke, a deputy from the

ruling African National Congress (ANC) and head of the parliament's

home affairs committee, took the chair for the hearing in

Soweto."Whatever contribution you are going to make is going to be

taken into account," Chauke told the participants.Bontle Setshogoe,

a member of the ANC's women's league, was one of the first to voice

her objections to the proposed new law."As a black nation, for us

it's a shock," she said."We have children who are growing up.What

are we supposed to say to these children?" Men and women of all

ages strode purposefully to the microphone in the centre of the

room to make their contribution to the debate."We come from a

history of apartheid, a history of division and segregation," said

Fikile Vilakazi, a 32-year-old lesbian who was wearing an orange

t-shirt with the slogan "Equal marriage for all, nothing

less"."When we say heterosexuals and homosexuals should use

different institutions ...aren't we reintroducing that system of

division and segregation?" said Vilakazi."Why don't we just put all

this under one marriage act?" Polar opposite views came from a raft

of religious groups who are fiercely opposed to any suggestion of

legalising gay marriage."We uncompromisingly believe that marriage

should be between a man and a woman," said Pastor Mosa Sono, from

the Grace Bible Church in Soweto."We find it very tragic that the

bill has been rushed so much, without ample participation from the

people of South Africa."Similar public debates are due to take

place in the coming days in eight other provinces before the new

legislation is submitted for parliamentary approval on October

20.Nampa-AFP

---