South Africa: Highest Court Hears Gay Marriage Case

South Africa's Constitutional Court was told Tuesday that barring same-sex couples from marrying is discrimination. The court was hearing a legal challenge brought by Marie Fourie and Cecilia Bonthuys, who have been partners since 1994 but are unable to marry. Last year the Supreme Court of Appeal ruled that the definition of marriage as being between a man and a woman discriminated unfairly against same-sex couples, and that common law should be developed to take this into account.