December 1, 2005
DOCTORS FOR LIFE CALLS ON PARLIAMENT NOT TO UNDERVALUE MARRIAGE
Embargo: Immediate release
Enquiries: John Smyth, QC Cell: +27 83 653 8804
Date: 1 December 2005
Today the Constitutional Court ruled that current legislation and common-law unfairly discriminates against same sex couples, referring the matter to Parliament for appropriate remedy. As a medical - scientific organisation, Doctors For Life International (DFL) has ample medical, sociological and psychological evidence demonstrating the detrimental effects of same sex relationships on individuals and society. DFL therefore implores Parliament to allow empirical science to lead it in this decision for the benefit of all South Africans.
DFL submitted an amicus brief to the Constitutional Court in which the following was demonstrated:
• The importance and value of the Traditional Heterosexual Marriage including the advantages it holds for the partners and children involved. Same Sex Relationships lack these values because they are physically and emotionally unnatural and have no innate ability to procreate.
• If the right to sexual orientation is defined as allowing different kinds of sexual practices to be embodied in marriage and especially a practice that contradicts the moral values held by a majority of South Africans, where will the boundaries be drawn? Will all sexual practices be acceptable as long as it is between consenting persons? One example is whether consensual necrophilia (sex with a corpse) will be acceptable? What about incest, bestiality, masochism and even hypoxyphilia?
• The right to sexual orientation is not absolute and under certain conditions the government has the right to overrule the rights of individuals.
• Marriage laws are not discriminatory. Marriage is open to all adults, subject to age and blood relation limitations.
• There is ample evidence to show an increased risk of harm with Same Sex Relationships to the partners and the children involved and to society as a whole.
• There is no scientific proof that homosexuality is an inherited trait, rather there is a large amount of evidence that it is a learned reaction.
DFL consequently argued that the Traditional Heterosexual Marriage has so many long standing and demonstrated advantages for society that its boundaries should be protected and its special privileges maintained. If the legal definition of marriage is given to any other type of relationship, the status of marriage will be eroded and devalued. Finally, DFL contended that there are alternative ways for homosexuals and lesbians to secure their rights and prevent discrimination, other than the granting of marital status for same sex relationships.
'Doctors for Life International' represents more than 1400 medical doctors and specialists, three-quarters of who practice in South Africa. Since 1991 DFL has been actively promoting health care that is safe and efficient for all South Africans. DFL was founded as a South African organization in 1991 and has spread across the globe. DFL is involved in several community projects including orphan care, the care of terminal AIDS patients, malaria prevention and the care of abused women.