Gay couple sentenced to maximum 14 years in Malawi

[UKMark]

From Yahoo News:
BLANTYRE, Malawi – A judge sentenced a couple to the maximum 14 years in prison with hard labor under Malawi's anti-gay legislation, and crowds jeered the two men as they were driven from the court house to jail Thursday.
The harsh sentence for unnatural acts and gross indecency had been expected after the same judge convicted Tiwonge Chimbalanga and Steven Monjeza earlier this week under laws dating from the colonial era. The case has drawn international condemnation and sparked a debate on human rights in this conservative southern African country.


Chimbalanga, a 20-year-old hotel janitor, and his unemployed partner were arrested Dec. 27, the day after they celebrated their engagement with a party at the hotel where Chimbalanga worked — an apparent first in Malawi.
"Maximum sentences are intended for use for worst cases," Magistrate Nyakwawa Usiwa Usiwa said as he delivered his sentence. "We are sitting here to represent the Malawi society which I do not believe is ready at this point in time to see its sons getting married to other sons or conducting engagement ceremonies."


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100520/ap_on_re_af/af_malawi_gay_trial

Words cannot describe how angry and sad I am at this story. I can't find the words right now. What does anyone else think

 

[Hollymom1229]

I am disgusted and saddened. I wonder if our world will ever get it right.

 

[wallyb]

Can't write what I think right here ...
but it rhymes with SUCK!

 

[OrlandoMike]

Sad, disgusting, uterly ridiculus!

 

[PghLybrt]

That is just so unbelievable and infuriating!

 

[mikelan6]

Very sad.

 

[PghLybrt]

Isn't that where Madonna adopted from? I would be intersted to see if she says anything.

 

[wallyb]

Isn't that where Madonna adopted from? I would be intersted to see if she says anything.

Yes - And she gives them money too.

 

[Gypsybear]

I'm actually speechless...

 

[PghLybrt]

Yes - And she gives them money too.

Wonder if that will change? after all, I am sure she knows who her fan base is

 

[Sphyrna]

With all the incidents we've had here in the US (proms, year books, etc) I guess in a way we are lucky. It's amazing how some cultures are. Makes me realize the US has come a long way but we still have a long way to go both here and abroad.

 

[f86sabjf]

This is sad indeed . I hope the world will rally behind these two and help them somehow.

 

[MAKHayes-DisneyDiva]

That's so wrong.

 

[Chuck S]

Interestingly enough, there is a new Vanguard episode on Hulu. THis is not uncommon for an African nation. According to Vanguard, Uganda is considering new laws that would give homosexuals the death sentence.

 

[akcire]

Agh--This is so @#*^%$ jacked!!

We could boycott Malawi, but I doubt they have anything we want.

We could collect money to buy these two freedom--bribery probably would work.

We could tell Madonna to adopt them.

We could all take a trip there and try to free them (then we'd all end up in jail).

Tibet still isn't free so bumper stickers and t-shirts are a lost cause.

That's it, I am out of ideas. I did send an email to Amnesty International, with the promise of a donation for action--don't really think I have enough money to bribe a charity. Anyone have Elton John's phone number? He has enough money to make "contribution" of consideration.

If they could get to an EU nation, they would probably be granted asylum.

Sometimes the world is a giant septic tank. Mean and stupid people suck!

 

[Gelfling_Jen]

I just saw this on the news and it made me feel sick to my stomach. I feel as though there is a backlash from the progress that people have made and this is causing a sort of de-evolution of human rights. When I talk about this with people I'm basically told that there's nothing I can do about it so why get so worked up.

 

[OrlandoMike]

Uganda is considering new laws that would give homosexuals the death sentence.

I know we are not supposed to talk politics, so I am just sharing this website for informational purposes only.......Not even sure how true it is, but an interesting read.......



http://rawstory.com/2009/2009/11/author-the-family-proposed-ugandan-law-execute-hiv-men/

 

[B-Ride]

Especially distressing since the President of Malawi is currently the head of the African Union. My understanding is that South Africa is the only country in Africa with laws that protect the rights of homosexuals.

On top of all this, just a couple of weeks ago, Prime Minister Harper, who I am embarassed to have as my "leader", invited Malawi to attend the upcoming G20 conference right here in Toronto. Unless he uses this opportunity to confront the Malawi delegation concerning their shameless practices, I am dead set against this invitation.

 

[UKMark]

My cousin and his partner got married a while ago, my brother is marrying his bf next month and Mark and I are tying the know next year. I keep thinking about what if it had happened to us or one of my family. It makes me want to cry just thinking about it. Mark is my world. We've been together for nine years and I just can't imagine how I'd cope if we were in that situation. Not allowing gay marriage is one thing, but this is basic human rights. Who can say that loving another person is so wrong that I should be locked away for it.

I've just looked at the Outrage! UK site. They have contact information for the two "prisoners". They also have a few things that can help them.

 

[f86sabjf]

Thanks for the tip on Outrage Mark