Queer marriage: sexualising citizenship and the development of freedoms in South Africa

Abstract

The chapter offers a queer theoretical reading and analysis of same-sex marriage in South Africa. The core argument situates marriage in terms of the unfolding jurisprudence that decriminalized same-sex sexuality in South Africa, and outlines meanings of same-sex marriage in the broader national debate about identity, sexuality, gender in a human rights context. The conclusions highlight the relevance of marriage in terms of forging identity politics and the challenges to identity politics when rights are infringed.