South Africa’s cabinet backs gay unions

South Africa is poised to allow gay men and lesbians to form legally recognised unions after cabinet approved a landmark bill.The bill still needs parliament’s approval to become law. Parliament is due to vote on the legislation in October, 365Gay.com reported. The South African government plans to hold public hearings about the bill before the parliamentary vote.The move follows a ruling by South Africa’s highest court last December in favour of gay marriage. The Constitutional Court ruled that South Africa’s parliament should pass a law recognising gay unions within 12 months. If parliament did not do so, the court said it would change the laws itself.The Constitutional Court case arose after lesbian couple Marie Fourie and Cecilia Bonthuys took legal action to amend laws blocking them from marrying.