Does Madonna Know What’s Happening
to Gays in Malawi?
A young man was arrested in Malawi recently for distributing posters calling for gay rights. Peter Sawali was posting signs that read, “Gay Rights Are Human Rights” when he was arrested by police and charged with conduct likely to cause breach of peace.
Is Madonna being mum about the persecution of gays in Malawi?
Homosexuality is illegal in Malawi and those convicted of homosexual acts—physical and political—can face prison sentences of up to 14 years. Now for the bitter twist of irony. Madonna—one of pop’s biggest gay icons—has been working to help the AIDS orphans of Malawi. One has to wonder if she knows about the way gays are treated in the country. She has been supported her whole career by the gay community and has been an outspoken advocate of gays rights in North America and Europe over the course of her career. But here’s the challenge: Can she mix the two messages: Help the AIDS orphans of Malawi and stop the systemic persecution of homosexuals?
Africa is becoming the new battleground in the gay rights arena. Some countries, like Uganda—with the aid of Western neo-conservative and religious fundamentalist groups—have been literally legislating gay people to death. While others, like South Africa have been breaking new and admirable ground with their gay rights laws.
Last December a gay couple in Malawi was arrested and charged with public indecency after becoming engaged. Their arrest caused outrage in the human rights sphere with Human Rights Watch writing a letter of protest to the Malawian government. The government is investigating whether or not Sawali is connected with the gay couple. If just convicetd of postering, he could face up to five months in prison, hard labour and a fine of $2,000 kwacha (about $14 USD).
What happens to the children of Malawi
who grow up to be gay?
While I don’t believe it’s Madonna’s responsibility to speak out about this, something in me wishes she would address the issue. She has a huge platform to call attention to human rights issues (such as the persecution of gypsies in Europe) as she has with her efforts to help children in Malawi. Is Madonna being mum about the persecution of gays in Malawi? Maybe she’s afraid that taking a public stand against the Malawian government could jeopardize her work for the AIDS orphans. That is a valid concern. But what happens to the children of Malawi who grow up to be gay?
February 22nd, 2010 at 1:49 pm
1 in 5 children die in Malawi before the age of 6 of malnutrition. Up t 25% of the population is hiv positive. The average wage is just 90mk (59 us cents) and that’s the for the few who are lucky enough to have jobs.
I’m not going to tell you that what your campaigning against isn’t justified but get your priorities right. I’ve lived in Malawi for the last 2 yerars and the poverty I have witnessed there is beyond comprehension. Before condoning Malawi for their laws, help them with their problems. re-direct some of your energy into feeding, clothing and supplying basic health care in this country and then, and only then, may you have any right in telling them how to behave.
February 22nd, 2010 at 3:13 pm
Thank you for your input Alexander!
It’s for all the reasons you’ve outlined that I think the Malawi government (and many others) has much higher priorities than hunting down and persecuting gay people.
Cheers,
Andrew
May 20th, 2010 at 1:30 pm
If there are so many ignorant people who hate homosexuals and other minorities in so called first world countries, what makes us believe that there aren’t in Malawi, a place that is hell on earth and people grow up in horrible poverty, disease and no access to good education? Madonna is already doing a lot building schools there, maybe future generations of malawians can change the country and its laws, but this all takes time.