Wednesday, September 11, 2002
Domestic partner couples targeting marriage in South Africa
A story released today by the BBC News reports that a South African judge said that same-sex couples who have just won the right to adopt children, should also be allowed to get married.
On Tuesday, South Africa's Constitutional Court ruled that people in "permanent, same-sex partnerships" could provide children with a stable home and the support and affection necessary.
The laws had already been declared unconstitutional by the Pretoria High Court, but now the Constitutional Court has confirmed the ruling and established that "the rights to equality and dignity were infringed by specific sections of the unamended Child Care Act."
"The next step is to legalize same-sex unions," said South African judge Suzanne du Toit who recently won a court decision to adopt her domestic partner’s 13 year old daughter.
Ann-Marie de Vos said she was "ecstatic" about the judgment.
She and Ms du Toit have been in a permanent partnership since 1989, the Mail and Guardian said, and they will now be able to officially adopt Ms de Vos' two children.
"I needed to know that if something happened to me, Suzanne would be able to take care of the children," she said.
