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South Africa Legally Allows Gay Marriages

South Africa has become the first country in Africa, and only the fifth nation in the world, to legally allow same-sex couples to officially wed. The law came into effect on December 1st and already Home Affairs offices were inundated with requests by homosexual couples to obtain marriage licenses. South Africa?s Constitutional Court gave legislators up until this date to change the discriminatory laws against gays and provide them with equal opportunities enjoyed by all the country?s citizens.

Across the nation, wedding halls, churches, jewelry shops and clothing boutiques were preparing for the huge number of gay couples who were finally allowed to tie the knot by law. One day after the law came into effect, two ?pink weddings? ? as they have come to be known ? were performed in the Cape Province town of George. Nobody can say for sure just how many couples have applied to get married under the new law, however, South Africa is home to tens of thousands of gay couples, thanks to a liberal government that takes pride in its non-discriminatory laws after so many decades of oppressive apartheid legislation.

The first couple to marry under the new law was Vernon Gibbs and Tony Hall who run an animal rehabilitation center and guesthouse in George. Conservative church groups and anti-gay organizations have targeted the couple for many years. However, they stood their ground and insisted on sharing a life together. After the pair was married, Gibbs said: ?It was so amazing. So quick and easy. I can`t believe it. I am so happy."