Bill on same-sex marriage officers passed

The National Assembly has passed the Civil Union Amendment Bill, which will make it impermissible for marriage officers working for the state to refuse to marry same-sex couples. However, objections were raised that the Department of Home Affairs had a 24-month transitional period for training. A Cape Argus report notes the Bill – which, as reported by Legalbrief Policy Watch, seeks to repeal section 6 of the Act allowing marriage officers to opt out of marrying same-sex couples on the basis of ‘conscience, religion and belief’ – was passed with the support of most parties. DA MP Haniff Hoosen called for the transitional period to be scrapped. ‘Why should any civil servant have the right to pick and choose which law they want to follow? This is wrong. If you are an employee of the state you must serve all citizens … What people do in their bedrooms is none of your business,’ said Hoosen. The report notes the amendment Bill was opposed by the ACDP, the National Freedom Party and the African Independent Congress.