South Africa is the only country on the African continent and one of only a few nations worldwide that allows gays to marry. Like many rights issues in the
U.S., the debate first surfaced in the courts, when a lesbian couple argued it was unconstitutional to prohibit them from marrying. Their case eventually made it to the
Constitutional Court.
In a country as conservative as
South Africa, where homophobia is widespread, you would think there would be a vocal opposition to the legislation. But according to Dawie Nel, the Executive Director of OUT in
South Africa, that’s not so.