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Creeping Toward Full Civil Rights for Same-Sex Couples
In November 2006, South Africa made a bold step by joining the Netherlands, Belgium, Canada, and Spain. What do these countries have in common? They all have legalized same-sex unions.
By signing The Civil Union Act, Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka made South Africa the first country in Africa to protect the civil liberties of couples that are not heterosexual. The bill provides for "voluntary union of two persons, which is solemnized and registered by either a marriage or a civil union," without specifying whether they are opposite-sex or same-sex partnerships.
The passage of this bill, it turns out, is very much in keeping with South Africa's progressive legislation in addressing the civil rights of lesbians, gay men, bisexual men and women, and transgendered people. South Africa's post-apartheid constitution (1996) was the first in the world to specifically outlaw discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. Talk about a radical turn-around from an extremely oppressive history.
Also in November, Israel's Supreme Court ordered the government to recognize same-sex marriages performed abroad. What will that do for these couples? They will get the same tax breaks as a married couple and be able to adopt children, since Israeli law requires that a couple be married in order to adopt a child. So, marriages performed in places such as Canada, Spain, Netherlands and Belgium will be "registered" as married in Israel though not "recognized" (a religious acknowledgement). Not everyone is Israel is in favor of this ruling, but for now that is how these couples will be treated by the law.
As the United States heads towards another presidential election in 2008, it seems inevitable that the candidates will be questioned about their position on same-sex unions. Doubtless, many aspersions will be hurled at anyone who fails to take a stand in opposition of civil rights for these couples. Yes, that's what it is -- it's a matter of civil rights, not religious entitlement. It's one of the key reasons that America was founded in the first place -- to separate church and state.
Related Topics:
Technorati Tags: same-sex marriage, civil union, civil rights, gay, bisexual, transgendered, lesbion, adoption
By signing The Civil Union Act, Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka made South Africa the first country in Africa to protect the civil liberties of couples that are not heterosexual. The bill provides for "voluntary union of two persons, which is solemnized and registered by either a marriage or a civil union," without specifying whether they are opposite-sex or same-sex partnerships.
The passage of this bill, it turns out, is very much in keeping with South Africa's progressive legislation in addressing the civil rights of lesbians, gay men, bisexual men and women, and transgendered people. South Africa's post-apartheid constitution (1996) was the first in the world to specifically outlaw discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. Talk about a radical turn-around from an extremely oppressive history.
Also in November, Israel's Supreme Court ordered the government to recognize same-sex marriages performed abroad. What will that do for these couples? They will get the same tax breaks as a married couple and be able to adopt children, since Israeli law requires that a couple be married in order to adopt a child. So, marriages performed in places such as Canada, Spain, Netherlands and Belgium will be "registered" as married in Israel though not "recognized" (a religious acknowledgement). Not everyone is Israel is in favor of this ruling, but for now that is how these couples will be treated by the law.
As the United States heads towards another presidential election in 2008, it seems inevitable that the candidates will be questioned about their position on same-sex unions. Doubtless, many aspersions will be hurled at anyone who fails to take a stand in opposition of civil rights for these couples. Yes, that's what it is -- it's a matter of civil rights, not religious entitlement. It's one of the key reasons that America was founded in the first place -- to separate church and state.
Related Topics:
- Study: Same-Sex Parents Raise Well-Adjusted Kids
- Teenage Kids of Same-Sex Parents Fare Well
- Adoption in Same-Sex Couples
Technorati Tags: same-sex marriage, civil union, civil rights, gay, bisexual, transgendered, lesbion, adoption
Labels: civil rights, civil union, same-sex marriage
