« Go back a post || Return to G-A-Y homepage || Haul tail to next post »
05/18/2010
Up to 14 years.
And now some perspective for us American LGBTs:
BLANTYRE, Malawi – A judge convicted a gay couple in Malawi Tuesday of unnatural acts and gross indecency after a trial that drew worldwide condemnation of this southern African country's colonial-era laws on homosexuality.
...
The couple could be imprisoned for up to 14 years.
Malawi: Judge convicts gay couple [AP via Yahoo! News]
When our deserved equality gets delayed, we must push harder. When our "fierce advocate" lets us down, we must say so. When a homo-hostile commentator uses his or her free speech to slur us, we must use our own speaking abilities to refute the attack. When an advocacy group only serves red wine at their national dinner despite the fact that we're having a light, lemony pasta, we must demand that the server go out and grab a perfectly-chilled white. Because when we lose either our rights or our perfect pairings, we lose ourselves.
But when we go about our pushes for DADT and DOMA repeal, action on ENDA, or requests for Cam and Mitch to KISS ALREADY, we in more enlightened environs must remember how much more fully our global population can and does suffer. When we laugh so as not to cry, we must keep in mind those humanity-robbed folks who cry so as to remind themselves that they are still, in fact, people.
**UPDATE, 5/20: This from the White House:
May 20, 2010
Statement by the Press Secretary on Court Ruling in Malawi
The United States strongly condemns the conviction and harsh sentencing of Steven Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga in Malawi. The criminalization of sexual orientation and gender identity is unconscionable, and this case mars the human rights record of Malawi. We urge Malawi and all countries to stop using sexual orientation or gender identity as the basis for arrest, detention, or execution.
###
Your thoughts
comments powered by Disqus
