Doma death redraws gay couples’ map

When American Dan Brotman flew back to South Africa this week, he had much to celebrate after years of spearheading a campaign for binational, same-sex couples living “in exile" in this country.

As young professionals, Brotman (26) and his South African fiancé, Keith Mienies (28), will now be free to choose where to pursue work opportunities, after the United States Supreme Court this week struck down a law that defines marriage as between a man and woman only.

The restrictions of the discriminatory Defence of Marriage Act, known as Doma, has forced many gay and lesbian binational couples to leave the United States, and live abroad. The Act was signed into law in 1996 by then president Bill Clinton, who later apologised to the nation for signing it.

In California this week, there were parties in the street as another US Supreme Court ruling on its contentious ballot Proposition 8, also paved the way for same-sex marriage to resume in the state.

Read the full article online here:
https://mg.co.za/article/2013-06-27-00-doma-death-redraws-gay-couples-map/

Author of the article: Glynnis Underhill