South Africans Sasha Lee Heekes and Megan Watling are overwhelmed with anger as a wedding venue in South Africa refused to host the lesbian couple's wedding ceremony citing religious beliefs.
The incident has sparked a row in the only African country to permit gay marriage. Gay marriage was legalised in South Africa 2006.
Heekes and Watling said they believed they had found the perfect venue for their wedding planned for April 2021.
Owners of Beloftebos Wedding Venue told them they do not host same-sex weddings because of their Christian beliefs.
The venue is currently facing criticism after Heekes took to Facebook to express her shock.
“Caution: A long post; but worth a read if you are pro-equality and love...” began Heekes' post that went on to say how “the Bill of Rights, affords us the inalienable right to be treated with equality and human dignity, this is not the reality.”
"You may not understand the hurt I feel, and how disheartened I am that such prejudices go unchallenged," Heekes said.
"But Beloftebos' way of thinking is one of many insidious ripples leftover from beliefs and ideologies that have contributed to mass human injustice," she said on Facebook.
A friend of the couple said that they are considering some kind of action against Beloftebos and are in consultation with a variety of role players.
According to the South African Human Rights Commission's official Andre Gaum, the decision taken by Beloftebos was discriminatory.
"You cannot in the name of religious freedom or religious beliefs unfairly discriminate on any of the prohibited grounds mentioned in the equality (law)," he said.
Michael Swain, spokesman for Beloftebos and director of Freedom of Religion South Africa, said it would be unfair for the venue owners to be forced to celebrate something that goes against their Christian beliefs and convictions adding that the venue would not have any problem in holding any other event for a same-sex couple, like a birthday party.
