Malawi man says ‘I do’ in Brussels gay marriage

A Malawian man Ackeem Kamkuzi said “I do” in front of hundreds of guests in a same-sex marriage officiated in the City of Brussel.

Kamkuzi exchanged wedding vows with Bart Nagels of Brussels at Brussesls historic city halls in a function officiated by Freddy Thielemans, mayor of the City of Brussels before relatives and friends.

“It’s a great pleasure for me to declare you married by law,” said the Mayor, as the couple embraced to a huge cheer from an audience.

The couple have also a daughter – which they adopted.

While Kamkuzi could not marry in Malawi as a gay because the laws prohibits same-sex marriage and homosexuality practices, he was lucky his parter is from Brussels where tourism officials are actively marketing the city as a gay-friendly destination.

According to reports, since 2003, 316 same-sex marriages – 286 male couples and 32 female couples – have been conducted in Brussels City Hall. An average of 30 of the approximately 800 marriages performed annually in City Hall are now same-sex.