Great win for gays, lesbians

Parliament yesterday passed a Bill which will make it impermissible for government marriage officers to refuse to marry same-sex couples, but objections were raised to the fact that home affairs has been granted a 24-month transitional period for training.

The Civil Union Amendment Bill, which seeks to repeal section 6 of the Act allowing officers to opt out of marrying same-sex couples on the basis of “conscience, religion and belief”, was passed with the support of most parties.

The Bill was introduced by Congress of the People MP Deidre Carter, who yesterday asserted that: “It cannot be in our constitutional democracy that civil servants can be afforded the right in law about whom they would like to serve.”

The proposed amendment was supported by the governing ANC. Its MP Hlomani Chauke said of the 409 home affairs offices in South Africa, most did not serve same-sex couples.

“What was disturbing was almost 88% of marriage officers in the department were exempted from marrying same-sex couples,” Chauke said.

The Bill gives the department a 24-month “transitional period” to enable officers an opportunity to be trained.

DA MP Hanif Hoosen said this was problematic, calling for the transitional period to be scrapped. “Why should any civil servant have the right to pick and choose which law they want to follow. This is wrong.

“If you are an employee of the state, you must serve all citizens. What people do in their bedrooms is none of your business.”

The amendment Bill was opposed by the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP), the National Freedom Party and the African Independent Congress.

While MPs said the amendment only applies to civil marriage officers and not religious marriage officers, ACDP leader Kenneth Meshoe said it was the start of the state’s encroachment on churches.

“Our constitution protects freedom of conscience, religion and belief and parliament has a duty to see that people do not act against this conscience in places of work. No one should be forced to accept a moral wrong,” said Reverend Meshoe.

EFF MP Hlengiwe Mkhaliphi disagreed, saying South Africa was a constitutional democracy and “not a religious democracy”.

The Bill will be sent to the president for assent. – ANA

If you are an employee of the state, you must serve all citizens. What people do in their bedrooms is none of your business.