South Africa's Cabinet Approves Gay Marriage

South Africa's cabinet has given its blessing to a bill allowing gay marriage, which would make it the first country in Africa to accord homosexual couples the same rights as their straight counterparts.

Government spokesman Themba Maseko said on Thursday the cabinet had approved the bill -- which must still be adopted by parliament -- after the country's highest court ruled it was unconstitutional to deny gay people the right to marry.

"Basically (the bill) will legalize same-sex marriage in compliance with the Constitutional Court ruling," said Maseko, who could not say when parliament would discuss the bill.

The bill, which has sparked opposition from religious groups, is still subject to public comment but gay rights activists applauded the decision and said it gave hope for gay and lesbians seeking to marry.

The Netherlands, Belgium, Spain and Canada already sanction gay marriages. Many African countries outlaw homosexuality and turn a blind eye to the persecution of gays and lesbians.
(More:Boston.com)