Defining moment

South Africa | Same-sex marriage ruling turns on what the word spouse means | Priya Abraham

In 1996, South Africa became the only country in the world to forbid discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in its constitution. At the time Christians warned the provision would open the door to gay marriage. Now it has.

On Dec. 1, South Africa's Constitutional Court, the highest in the land, ordered parliament to change its laws to accommodate gay couples. If it does not within 12 months, the country's marriage laws will automatically include the words or spouse after the words husband and wife.

South African and international media quickly reported that the ruling legalizes gay marriage. In fact, it falls short of that, despite the gay and lesbian celebrations outside the courthouse. The nuanced ruling both orders more legal recognition for gay couples while acknowledging the religious beliefs of the socially conservative majority.