Wed 10 Apr 2013 In: True Stories View at Wayback View at NDHA
Tshepo Cameron Modisane and Thoba Calvin Sithol have married in South Africa, in what has been proclaimed Africa’s first 'traditional gay wedding'. The men, both 27, tied the knot in KwaDukuza in KwaZulu-Natal, before 200 guests, in a ceremony that united Zulu and Tswana traditions. "The great step that we took in our relationship as a gay couple was introducing each other to our families," Tshepo told Mamba Online in February. "We are so blessed to have supportive families who care about us. Even though we are gay they still love us." The men say they also hope to have children through a surrogate. “Family is important to us and that is the number one reason why we want to have children," Thoba said. "We also want our children to grow up in an environment where they are loved greatly by both parents who appreciate them." In 2006 South Africa became the fifth country in the world, and the first in Africa, to introduce marriage equality. The nation’s Constitution also forbids discrimination on the basis of sex, gender or sexual orientation. However outside of its urban areas in particular, GLBT South Africans still report being subject to abuse and homophobia, most horrifically in the form of ‘corrective rape’ against lesbians. GayNZ.com staff - 10th April 2013