28th May 2007 - Citizen

PRETORIA – The South African Union for Progressive Judaism (SAUPJ) said on Monday it has decided to allow marriage between Jewish couples of the same gender.
“This decision was arrived at after long and thoughtful deliberation and in the spirit of what Progressive Judaism is about - inclusion of all Jews regardless of gender, sexual orientation, race or ethnicity,” said SAUPJ chairperson, Steve Lurie.

He said the decision to allow same sex marriages came about at a SAUPJ National Assembly meeting on May 6.
“It was agreed that there should be no distinction in the status of religious marriages of same-sex partners and heterosexual couples,” he added, saying the move went a long way to repudiate prejudice.

Gay Marriages became legal last year after the Civil Unions Bill was passed. Many churches though have been reluctant to perform wedding ceremonies for gay couples. Four major denominations in South Africa, Anglican, Baptist, Presbyterian and Catholic do not officiate at gay weddings. In December 2006, South Africa became the fifth country in the world to grant same-sex couples the same status and rights as heterosexual marriage partners.