White House, Madonna Condemn Sentence of Gay Malawi Couple

The international community is swiftly responding to the outrageous 14 year sentence imposed upon Steven Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga, the gay Malawi couple convicted of  "gross indecency and unnatural acts." Their crime? Holding a public engagement ceremony in December.

Madonna, who has adopted two children from Malawi and is building a school in the southern Africa nation, has finally addressed this human rights fiasco. The statement:

"I am shocked and saddened by the decision made today by the Malawian court, which sentenced two innocent men to prison. As a matter of principle, I believe in equal rights for all people, no matter what their gender, race, color, religion, or sexual orientation. Today, Malawi took a giant step backward. The world is filled with pain and suffering; therefore, we must support our basic human right to love and be loved. I call upon the progressive men and women of Malawi—and around the world—to challenge this decision in the name of human dignity and equal rights for all."

The White House has also strongly denounced the conviction and sentencing. The statement by Press Secretary Robert Gibbs:

"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."

On Tuesday, the State Department criticized the human rights travesty. Assistant Secretary of State Philip Crowley made an even stronger condemnation today. "The United States is appalled by today's sentencing," Crowley told reporters. "We view the criminalization of sexual orientation and gender identity as a step backward.

No word yet if the conviction have any bearing on the State Department's $115 million annual foreign aid budget to Malawi.

Comments

[Mike A]

The last paragraph is key.

Amnesty International demanded that the couple be freed. Neither the White House nor the State Department did.

[barton hughes]

@ Mike A ... ditto

The USA needs to use that $115 million as leverage.

[SouLKid]

*sighs* Being African myself, I'm totally appalled at this atrocity. What's even more disturbing is that the only concerns on the record are from outside the continent. The silence from the rest of the continent's leaders can only be interpreted as approval of this vile violation of human rights.

I totally co-sign @Barton Hughes' suggestion that the USA use the money as leverage.

[Mad Professah]

If the conviction stands then theUS should immediately end foreign aid to the country.

[Joseph Lanzone]

As a gay man married(in Massachusetts) to my partner of thirty years, I am not only appalled at this decision, but in solidarity with this couple. Even though we live in the US, my husband and I are acutely aware of how many civil and human rights we are still denied here. The US either stands for indivisible freedom or it does not. It must once and for all ACT like the land of the free. We gay people make it the home of the brave!