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Malawi: Update on Engaged Gay Couple on Trial

Monday, January 25th, 2010

In Malawi, two men who dared to go public with their relationship by holding a traditional “marriage” ceremony are on trial for indecency, and face 14 years in jail. “It’s so scary,” one gay man, who didn’t want to be identified, told Sky News in the city of Blantyre, where the trial is taking place.

“We are not feeling free and are worried about being arrested. It is the first case to be brought under Malawi’s longstanding legislation banning homosexuality in years.

The rise of US style evangelist preachers has contributed to a hardening of attitudes in the tiny southern African state.

Full Story from Sky News
Click here for gay marriage resources.
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Posted in engaged, gay couple, Gay Marriage, malawi, marriage equality, prison, same sex marriage, trial | No Responses »

Malawi: Update on Gay Couple Imprisoned After Engagement

Tuesday, January 19th, 2010

The traditional engagement ceremony of two men on Dec. 26, 2009 has created controversy in conservative Malawi. Tiwonge Chimbalanga and Steven Monjeza were arrested two days after their engagement and remain in police custody, facing long jail terms.

A traditional engagement in Malawi counts as a civil marriage and is recognised as such throughout the country. Chimbalanga and Monjeza are the first gay couple to declare their sexual orientation in this manner. The couple is facing charges of “gross indecency” and buggery for “having carnal knowledge against the order of nature”, offences under Malawi’s colonial-era penal code.



Arrest condemned: Following their arrest, local human rights activists, civil society organisations and international human rights organisations condemned the government. Amnesty International criticised the arrest and called for the immediate and unconditional release of the couple from police custody. Amnesty accuses Malawi of criminalising homosexuality, gender identity and the couple’s legitimate exercise of their rights.

Full Story from IPS

Click here for gay marriage resources.

To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook – just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you’ll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We’re also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.

Posted in arrested, engaged, gay couple, Gay Marriage, malawi, marriage equality, prison, same sex marriage | No Responses »

Malawi: Gay Couple Beaten in Prison, May Break Up

Monday, January 4th, 2010

Since they became the first openly gay couple in Malawi to be engaged, Tiwonge Chimbalanga and Steven Monjeza have been arrested, put in prison and charged with offences that could lead to a 14-year jail sentence.

Between true love and gay martyrdom, however, is the brutal reality of life in a Malawi prison. Yesterday, in their first interview since being jailed, the pair claimed that they had been beaten in prison, and demanded to go to court to prove their innocence.

While Mr Chimbalanga, 20, who dresses as a woman, spoke defiantly of his love for the man he plans to marry, Mr Monjeza, 22, said that he was “drunk” when they met and was considering ending their engagement. The couple, who denied three charges of unnatural practices between males and gross indecency, performed a public engagement ceremony in front of 500 onlookers last weekend. They were arrested two days later.

Full Story from the Times Online: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/africa/article6974678.ece

Click here for gay marriage resources.

To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook – just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you’ll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We’re also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.

Posted in beaten, gay couple, Gay Marriage, gay rights, malawi, marriage equality, prison | No Responses »