The Crescent,
News from Packilvania
1 July 2024
Best Friends Act is now Law
Hidaam Lukhtan
On 30 June 2024, the Parliament passed the Best Friends Act (luKhanon ameSol meBas) which will allow two people of the same gender to register as best friends. This means that they will be allowed to register their friend as a dependent on medical aid, and a beneficiary on investment and insurance products. The law will also give them similar hospital visitation rights to family, allow them to register their best friend as a legal guardian for their child if they are a single parent and jointly open a bank account.
The law is restricted to same sex best friends to prevent marriage-like arrangements via the back door. It also states that besties must have known each other for at least a year ans the pair must present witnesses to that effect. People are not allowed to have more than one legally registered best friend. The rights of the best friend are superceded by the rights of children and spouses.
People can register a best friend at a majhid, home affairs branch, with a commissioner of oaths or at a public library. They must sign an oath that they are not homosexuals and that they disavow homosexuality generally.
To prevent false claims against besties from being brought against them, laws surrounding homosexuality have been amended. Activities undertaken in terms of the Best Friends Act by two registered best friends cannot be construed as best friends. Activities such as living together, showing permissible affection, and sharing a bed cannot be construed as homosexual acts even when performed by non-best friends (as this is the evidence used to indicate a relationship in the first place).
Homosexuality remains illegal notwithstanding the more onerous burden of proof. Frivolous allegations of homosexuality can attract criminal prosecution. Registering more than one best friend is an offence. A best friendship can be ended unilaterally for any reason. Falsely registering someone as your best friend is a criminal offence. Claiming best friend benefits without appropriate registration is a criminal offence.