A key
parliamentary committee in South Africa on Friday
delayed a decision on proposed legislation to enshrine
same-sex partnerships in the law to give more time for
discussion of the measure. The Home Affairs Portfolio
Committee said it now planned to vote on the legislation
Tuesday or Wednesday.
The Civil Unions Bill was introduced to comply
with a constitutional court ruling that the government
must accord gay couples the same rights and
responsibilities as heterosexual couples. The government has
until December 1 to comply.
South Africa would be the first African nation
to recognize the equality of gay couples on a
continent where homosexuality is taboo. Conservatives
and traditional leaders have criticized the proposed
legislation as undermining South Africa's cultural
traditions. Even many lawmakers of the ruling African
National Congress say they have deep reservations
about the bill.
Gay activists and human rights advocates say the
bill does not go far enough because it defines "civil
unions" as the "voluntary union between two adult
persons of the same sex to the exclusion, while it
lasts, of all others." Lesbian and gay couples would
continue to be barred from full marriage.
The Cabinet approved the bill earlier this year.
If approved by the Home Affairs Portfolio Committee,
the bill will go to the full parliament. (AP)