It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Same-sex marriage in South Africa. (Discuss)

South Africa granted unregistered cohabitation in 1999. The law was expanded to allow for same-sex marriage on the 1 December 2006. Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Same-sex marriage is widely expected to become legal in South Africa, following a ruling by the Constitutional Court and a vote by the Parliament of South Africa. ... A civil union is a legal partnership agreement between two persons. ... Same-sex marriage is the legal union of two people who are of the same biological sex or gender. ... This politics article needs to be wikified. ... Spain is divided into 17 autonomous communities, 11 of which recognize civil unions. ... Statutory cohabitation: Act of 23 November 1998: Gives limited rights to registered same-sex and opposite-sex couples. ... Same-sex marriage was legalized across Canada by the Civil Marriage Act enacted on July 20, 2005. ... Same-sex marriage, often called gay marriage, is a marriage between two persons of the same gender. ... In Argentina, marriage is allowed between a man and woman. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Same-sex marriage in Australia. ... Beginning July 2004 some Italian regions recognized coppie di fatto (de facto couples), both same-sex and opposite-sex couples, giving them legal benefits. ... The Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul legalised civil unions after a court decision in March 2004. ... In November of 2006, Mexicos capital, Mexico City, legalized civil unions between same-sex couples. ... Coahuila (formal name: Coahuila de Zaragoza) is one of Mexicos 31 component states. ... Colima is a state in western Mexico. ... Common-law marriage (or common law marriage), sometimes called informal marriage or marriage by habit and repute is, historically, a form of interpersonal status in which a man and a woman are legally married. ... Civil unions in Quebec: Pursuant to a range of activism and to the M. v. ... Common-law marriage (or common law marriage), sometimes called informal marriage or marriage by habit and repute is, historically, a form of interpersonal status in which a man and a woman are legally married. ... Same-sex marriage is the legal union of two people who are of the same biological sex or gender. ... Registered partnership is one of several terms for a civil union or civil partnership similar to marriage, typically created for the purposes of allowing same-sex couples access to the legal and social benefits of traditional marriage. ... Domestic partner or domestic partnership identifies the personal relationship between individuals who are living together and sharing a common domestic life together but are not joined in any type of legal partnership, marriage or civil union. ... Common-law marriage (or common law marriage), sometimes called informal marriage or marriage by habit and repute is, historically, a form of interpersonal status in which a man and a woman are legally married. ... World laws on homosexuality US laws on homosexuality Same-sex unions in Europe. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday, and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ... December 1 is the 335th (in leap years the 336th) day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Five decisions of the Constitutional Court set the status of civil unions. The decisions recognized same-sex partnerships in immigration (1999), granted same-sex couples the same financial status to married heterosexual partners (2002), allowed adoption by same-sex couples (2002), entitled same-sex couples to the same financial benefits as unmarried cohabiting heterosexual couples (2003), and recognized that the children born to same-sex couples by way of artificial insemination are legitimate (2003). A civil union is a legal partnership agreement between two persons. ... Heterosexuality is a sexual orientation characterized by esthetic attraction, romantic love or sexual desire exclusively for members of the opposite sex or gender, contrasted with homosexuality and distinguished from bisexuality and asexuality. ... Adoption is the legal act of permanently placing a child with a parent or parents other than the birth parents. ...

In December 2004, the Supreme Court of Appeal obliged the government to extend full civil marriage for same-sex couples. The Department of Home Affairs appealed the ruling to the Constitutional Court. Matrimony redirects here. ... Same-sex marriage (also called gay marriage, marriage equality, and often just marriage by its proponents, and—usually by its opponents—homosexual marriage) refers to a marriage between individuals of the same gender (for other forms of same-sex unions that are different from marriages, see the articles...

On December 1, 2005, the Constitutional Court rejected the appeal, giving Parliament one year to amend the Marriage Act to include same-sex couples. Text of Decision. On November 14, 2006, South Africa passed the Civil Union Bill with a vote of 230 to 41. [1]

See also

• Same-sex marriage in South Africa
• Gay rights in South Africa
• Gay rights by country
• Timeline of LGBT history
• Homosexuality laws of the world
• Marriage, unions and partnerships by country