We’ve heard a lot of horror stories from Africa on gay issues. So, it’s worth reading this piece in the New York Times about same-sex marriage in South Africa.
More than 3,000 same-sex couples have been married in South Africa, with about half of those couples including at least one foreigner, the government says. The law permitting same-sex marriage has begun to pave the way for greater tolerance of homosexuality, advocates contend, and the weddings have provided a shot in the arm to companies catering to those tying the knot.“Apartheid suppressed tolerance, but once that was out of the way our society has moved so fast and most people just go with the flow,” said Mr. Brits, a nondenominational minister.
The weddings frequently take place on Table Mountain, the vast, flat-topped landmark that looms over the city, and at hotels like the 12 Apostles, a resort perched on a cliff above the sea where Arianne McClellan and her bride, both London police officers, said “I do” last fall. The couple chose Cape Town for its stunning natural beauty and gay-friendly culture.
The legal protections in South Africa stand in stark contrast to the antigay sentiment that has recently been on display elsewhere in Africa, whether in the trial of a gay couple in Malawi or the legislative proposal in Uganda to make homosexuality a capital crime in some cases.
The article explains how there is growing acceptance of marriage in South Africa. Yes, there are hurdles. But, there can’t be acceptance if it never happens.
Some day, maybe people in the U.S. will “go with the flow.”
And, this is a photo of Tabletop Mountain I took in Cape Town last November. That is one beautiful city:
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