statement from the inner circle

December 1, 2005: The Inner Circle has always believed that marriage between people of the same sex is not an issue to be forced upon individuals, but that it is a basic human right and a privilege for everyone, regardless of race, gender, religion or sexuality.

Despite the fact that marriage is a personal choice and has some psychological advantages, TIC encourages same sex marriages for social benefits such as establishing longer and meaningful relationships between glbtqi and decreasing multiple sex partners and irresponsible sex, which comes with the increasing possibility of contracting sexually transmitted diseases and the adverse psychological effect such relationships sometimes have on individuals.

We are celebrating the news we received today, 1 December 2005, from the Constitutional Court, which ruled in favour of same sex marriage, and has given parliament a year to get the paperwork in order.

This can only be a blessing to glbtqi Muslims and our brothers and sisters from other faiths as it would create a sense of self-worth, confidence and belonging again for many who struggled with sexuality and faith issues until now.

TIC envisage to workshop and debate the issue of same-sex marriages in Islam further in the coming year's educational and outreach programs.

Love & Peace
Br. Muhsin Hendricks
President of The Inner Circle South Africa

The Inner Circle is the Islamic Organization for the Social and Spiritual advancement of Sexually Diverse Groups and Individuals