Gay Couple Sentenced To 14 Years In Malawi

News24 reports that "(a) judge has sentenced a gay couple to the maximum 14 years in prison for unnatural acts and gross indecency."

The sentence includes hard labor.

Addressing the two men, magistrate Nyakwawa Usiwa Usiwa said:

"I will give you a scaring sentence so that the public be protected from people like you so that we are not tempted to emulate this horrendous example ...

Malawi is not ready to see its sons getting married to its sons."

Geez I wonder if Malawi is ready to step into the 21st century?

The sentence can be appealed but I don't expect that it will be overturned.

Cracking down on gay folk across the continent seems to be a priority over protecting the human rights of all.

I am disgusted by this kind of inhumane nonsense.

Just a few days ago here in the land of the faded rainbow a lesbian woman was assaulted by a man who kicked her in the crotch to "convert her" according to a media report.

This in a country where gay and lesbian rights are protected under the constitution.

And before anyone makes this into a black/African vendetta against gays and lesbians it would be prudent to note that the women who was kicked is white and so is her attacker.

Anti-gay sentiment crosses the race, gender, and class divides in South Africa and the continent in general.

Same-sex couples or relationships are considered "un-African", whatever that may mean.

Gangs of men are known to rape lesbians in an act referred to as "corrective rape".

Since 1998, 31 "lesbians have been reported murdered in homophobic attacks," according to a media report.

And these are merely the cases we know about. I fully expect that the number far exceeds what is on the books, and the number of assaults in total is not even known.

We have a long way to go. Here in the faded rainbow and on the continent in general.

Gay and lesbian rights are human rights.

No exceptions.

Onward!


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UPDATE (May 31, 2010): President Bingu wa Mutharika has decided to pardon and free the gay couple without conditions. The decision came after meeting with UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon.