Malawi Is Considering Legalizing Homosexuality. Here’s Why We’re Not Cheering
"We
will leave that to the people."
-
477
-
1
-
-
-
-
Malawi’s President Peter
Mutharika announced he is open to the legalization of both homosexuality and
same-sex marriage, making him one of the few leaders in Africa to take that
stance.
But Mutharika has proposed a
national referendum, putting the civil liberties of the country’s LGBT community
up to a public vote.
He’s also advocating a vote
on abortion, which is currently illegal in Malawi.
Getty
A remnant of British
colonization, Malawi’s criminal code punishes sex between men with up to 14
years in prison. Legislators added a ban on same-sex marriage earlier this
year.
In 2009, a trans woman and
her male partner were sentenced to 14 years hard labor after marrying in a
traditional ceremony.
Outcry from human rights
activists led to the prohibition being briefly
suspended by then-president Joyce Banda in 2014. But it was quickly restored
after religious groups complained.
Mutharika, Banda’s successor,
may seem progressive by bringing gay rights to the fore, but he and his base
know full well the country’s Christian majority will vote against any measure of
equality for LGBT people.
Should the international
community complain, or the UN try to tie aid to reform, he’ll simply say he’s
following the will of his people.
Why not? It worked for years
here in the U.S.
Yes Equality, the country’s
LGBT organization, to educate the public with events and parades.
“Everyone has a right to be
free from discrimination in the enjoyment of their human rights, including to
marry an found a family,” its leaders told the Nyasa Times. “Love
does not discriminate and neither should our
laws.”
No comments:
Post a Comment