South Africa Legalizes Gay Marriage (1 Viewer)

[Duke]

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/14/world/africa/14cnd-safrica.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

JOHANNESBURG, Nov. 14 — South Africa’s Parliament overwhelmingly voted today to legalize same-sex marriages, making the nation the first in Africa and the fifth in the world to remove legal barriers to gay and lesbian unions, according to activists.

The legislature voted after the nation’s highest court ruled that South Africa’s marriages statutes violated the constitution’s guarantee of equal rights. The court gave the government a year to amend the legal definition of marriage. That deadline expires in two weeks.

Melanie Judge, program manager for OUT, a gay rights advocacy group, noted that the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain and Canada were the only other countries to allow same-sex marriages nationwide. In most African nations, she said, homosexuality is still treated as a crime. Some penalties are stiffer than those for rape or murder..

Ms. Judge credited South Africa’s liberal constitution with forcing change.

“This has been a litmus test of our constitutional values,” she said in a telephone interview. “What does equality really mean? What does it look like? Equality does not exist on a sliding scale.”

South Africa has legalized Gay Marriage, but America, no.


Duke

 

[saggyjones]

I hope this doesn't turn into a huge gay marriage debate thread like the other one on this board lol

Technically gay marriage is legal in America by the 14th amendment. But some parts of the Constitution don't really matter, right? I mean, our founding fathers had no idea about gay people and their sick, twisted, tradition changing ways. As ProudAmerican so aptly put it, gay people are freaks.

Just in case you didn't realize it, that was sarcasm.

 

[cherokee]

I hope this doesn't turn into a huge gay marriage debate thread like the other one on this board lol

Technically gay marriage is legal in America by the 14th amendment. But some parts of the Constitution don't really matter, right? I mean, our founding fathers had no idea about gay people and their sick, twisted, tradition changing ways. As ProudAmerican so aptly put it, gay people are freaks.

Just in case you didn't realize it, that was sarcasm.

I want to say the Brits have done the same thing or something close to it.
In time the US will too. The US has come a long way.

 

[Duke]

I hope this doesn't turn into a huge gay marriage debate thread like the other one on this board lol

Twenty bucks says it's about to. But that's the way things go, isn't it?

Anyway, I'm glad that South Africa has set such a powerful precedent for the rest of Africa and possibly the world, a statement of tolerance and acceptance.

Say, Cherokee, my favorite nemesis, what's your stance on gay marriage? I'm very for.


Duke

 

[cherokee]

Twenty bucks says it's about to. But that's the way things go, isn't it?

Anyway, I'm glad that South America has set such a powerful precedent for the rest of Africa and possibly the world, a statement of tolerance and acceptance.

Say, Cherokee, my favorite nemesis, what's your stance on gay marriage? I'm very for.
Duke

Its not even a question in my eyes. The Gov has no right.

I believe in the Bill Of Rights.
As long as they (or anyone for that matter) don’t violate the right of others.
I have no problem.

I will admit the only gay people I know are members here at the site.
Its lame to say gay unions or whatever will destroy the marriage I have with my wife.
Only her or me can do that.

 

[jfuh]

I want to say the Brits have done the same thing or something close to it.
In time the US will too. The US has come a long way.

We still have a long ways to go.
Good news is ppl are understanding that this is an issue that has been ignored and that it is the new "black".

 

[jfuh]

Twenty bucks says it's about to. But that's the way things go, isn't it?

Anyway, I'm glad that South America has set such a powerful precedent for the rest of Africa and possibly the world, a statement of tolerance and acceptance.

Say, Cherokee, my favorite nemesis, what's your stance on gay marriage? I'm very for.


Duke

You mean South Africa

 

[Duke]

You mean South Africa

Whoops, I've got my head stuck in a different debate...:doh

Heck, nobody's perfect. Definitely not me. :2razz:


Duke

 

[Gardener]

This is good news. I'm a bit surprised, but that just shows that I haven't been keeping up with politics there.

 

[Duke]

Its not even a question in my eyes. The Gov has no right.

I believe in the Bill Of Rights.
As long as they (or anyone for that matter) don’t violate the right of others.
I have no problem.

I will admit the only gay people I know are members here at the site.
Its lame to say gay unions or whatever will destroy the marriage I have with my wife.
Only her or me can do that.

:bravo:

Someone's got his head on correctly.

Look, Cherokee and Duke found something they can agree on. :mrgreen:


Duke

 

[Duke]

This is good news. I'm a bit surprised, but that just shows that I haven't been keeping up with politics there.

It's surprising to me too. I'm amazed how much South Africa has progressed since the fifties. Amazed and delighted.:mrgreen:


Duke

 

[cherokee]

This is good news. I'm a bit surprised, but that just shows that I haven't been keeping up with politics there.

hell buddy, you and me both.

Me and the wife are gonna try like hell to visit Senegal again. Maybe in AUG?
I have a buddy I served with who lives there.

 

[jfuh]

Its not even a question in my eyes. The Gov has no right.

I believe in the Bill Of Rights.
As long as they (or anyone for that matter) don’t violate the right of others.
I have no problem.

I will admit the only gay people I know are members here at the site.
Its lame to say gay unions or whatever will destroy the marriage I have with my wife.
Only her or me can do that.

If only more ppl understood this simply concept.
Exactly, what of any meaning or business is it of yours what the neighbors down the street do at all? Hell they can play thier music, light the fireplace and I'd be none the wiser unless I could hear it or smell it. What they do in thier bed room is even less my business.
And if my relationship was so insecure that a gay couple or any couple moving into the house next door causes my relationship to crumble, then my relationship was doomed to begin with.

And even if by the slightest inkling that they do effect me (ie I can hear them). What right do I have to break up thier relationship?

Insecurity, it's always about insecurities of ppl with what they either don't understand, can't understand or refuse to understand.

 

[Duke]

If only more ppl understood this simply concept.
Exactly, what of any meaning or business is it of yours what the neighbors down the street do at all? Hell they can play thier music, light the fireplace and I'd be none the wiser unless I could hear it or smell it. What they do in thier bed room is even less my business.
And if my relationship was so insecure that a gay couple or any couple moving into the house next door causes my relationship to crumble, then my relationship was doomed to begin with.

And even if by the slightest inkling that they do effect me (ie I can hear them). What right do I have to break up thier relationship?

Insecurity, it's always about insecurities of ppl with what they either don't understand, can't understand or refuse to understand.

I agree.

I remember listening to a fire-and brimstone preacher sermonizing to the crowd about the imminent and hideous threats, saying things like this
"When the gays get married, nothing will stop them!!! They will destroy America's morals! They will destroy your morals! They will destroy family values! They will destroy your marriage! And if you don't stop them, they will take your children, take your rights, and take your job!!! Oh, and, uh, vote for Bush."
Something like that.

How long do you think it'll be before some far-right anti-gay marriage guy comes in here and cusses us all out? :roll:


Duke

 

[jfuh]

I agree.

I remember listening to a fire-and brimstone preacher sermonizing to the crowd about the imminent and hideous threats, saying things like this
"When the gays get married, nothing will stop them!!! They will destroy America's morals! They will destroy your morals! They will destroy family values! They will destroy your marriage! And if you don't stop them, they will take your children, take your rights, and take your job!!! Oh, and, uh, vote for Bush."
Something like that.

How long do you think it'll be before some far-right anti-gay marriage guy comes in here and cusses us all out? :roll:


Duke

Only a matter of time before they spread thier bullshit around here.
The whole seperate but equal routine with civil unions and spliting the forum with partisan slander.

I just really don't get it why ppl are so insecure about themselves, thier own marriage. Why must you pry into the lives of other ppl?

It's the same with racism, the same with antisemitism, bigotry and intolerance because of insecurities.
Why does the jock pick on the nerd? Because that's all he's got to show of his self worth. His worth rests on the bullying of another to put down.
Why does the millionaire go around tauting his fortune he fears ppl don't know he's rich. why does the asshole husband beat his wife? Because he only knows said method to control and fears not being in control

Insecurities - the very reason for much of the screw ups in our society.

 

[FreeThinker]

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/14/world/africa/14cnd-safrica.html?_r=1&oref=slogin



South Africa has legalized Gay Marriage, but America, no.


Duke

Well that settles it.

Dust off the slave boats: we're moving the gays to Africa.

just kidding that was a joke. i'm all for legalizing gay marriage.

 

[Duke]

:lamo :2funny:

Good one, Free Thinker:mrgreen:

But look at this, it's been hours and still no angry conservative warrior has come in here to smite us all.:roll:


Duke