Lesbian Couple Demand R2 Million From Wedding Venue, Beloftesbos

A lesbian couple from has sued a wedding venue demanding R2 million in damages.

The same-s_x couple from Cape Town wants R2 million in damages for a charity of their choice after a wedding venue refused to host their wedding.

Last year, Beloftebos in Stanford denied Sasha-Lee Heekes and Megan Watling from hosting their wedding at the venue.

The picturesque farm first made headlines in 2017 when an American couple took to social media after their request to have their wedding at Beloftesbos was denied.

Sasha-Lee Heekes and fiancée Megan Watling have taken their grievance to the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC)

The SA Human Rights Commission has brought a case in the Equality Court, where the pair has also filed an intervening application.

“If we accept it in this sphere, it wouldn’t be long before we would have to accept it in other spheres.”

“If someone says they get away with it, others will say we can also refuse, and before long it will be restaurants, cafes, theatres, and hospitals,” said Watling.

The owners of the Stanford farm are hitting back by challenging the constitutionality of part of the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act.

“Everyone has the right to freedom of conscience, religion, thought, belief and opinion,” was the defense offered by Beloftesbos, near Hermanus, for not hosting same-s_x wedding ceremonies.

The farm owners insist they are not homophobic, and gay people are welcome to visit.

But for religious reasons, they draw the line at hosting same-s_x weddings.

On the Beloftebos website, its owners say:

“We… are Christians who seek to honour and obey God in everything we do, including the way in which we operate our business. While the venue is available to people of all races, our biblical conviction is that marriage is reserved for a lifelong commitment between one man and one woman.”