Political Scientists Move Meeting Out of Uganda

The American Political Science Association announced Friday that it will move its summer workshop for African scholars from Uganda to a yet-to-be-determined location elsewhere in Africa. The association planned the meeting well before the current debate there about legislation that would impose severe penalties — including execution in some cases — for gay acts. A statement issued by the association noted that “legal hostility” toward gay people is a problem in almost all African nations. But Uganda poses “unique” problems, the association said, in part because of the breadth of the proposed legislation, which covers some thought as well as behavior, the statement said. The association has been studying the issue and hoping that the legislation would be withdrawn or defeated, but at this point, plans need to be made, so the APSA decided to move the meeting. “We cannot commit today to send staff and scholars to work in Uganda safely on topics that include the study of sexual identity in politics, and we of course must not remove these topics from our agenda for the workshops,” the statement said.

More at: Inside Higher Ed!

Malawi Court Denies Gay Couple Bail…Again

Yesterday, Malawi’s High Court refused a request to release Steven Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga on bail from a maximum security prison where they are being held in interest of their own safety.

Police arrested the gay couple in December after they became married in a “traditional” ceremony, and were charged with unnatural practices between males and gross public indecency as homosexuality is a criminal offense in the African nation.

Justice Rowland Mbvundula stated:

“The State fears for applicants’ safety based on the kind of reaction members of the public have demonstrated each time they are brought to court.”

This is the second time the couple has been denied bail, both times, on the grounds of the couple’s own safety.

Earlier this week, more leaders from other countries spoke out against the arrest as 34 members of the British parliament joined Amnesty International in calling for their unconditional release.

Scotland Condemns Malawi’s Gay Arrest

A few weeks ago, a young gay couple decided to be the first to “marry” in the African nation of Malawi where homosexuality is against the law.  As a result, they were arrested and are awaiting trial.

Although spokespersons for the Malawi government have stated the couple’s arrest was as much for their own protection as it was for them breaking the law, it would appear that the Draconian views against the LGBT community in the small country haven’t gone unnoticed in other nations.

According to Nyasa Times:

More than 20 members of the Scottish parliament have condemned the arrest of two gay men in Malawi who held a wedding ceremony.

The motion was signed by members of all main parties and called for parliament to condemn the “illegal and homophobic arrests” of Steven Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga.

The couple are currently on trial and may face up to 14 years in prison if convicted.

The motion was introduced by Dundee West MSP, Joe FitzPatric.

“Malawi is one of several African countries adopting increasingly homophobic attitudes, with Uganda having recently introducing anti-homosexual legislation including the death penalty and other repressive practices being introduced in Gambia,” he said.

“Apart from the human rights violations, and the discriminatory nature of the contraventions, it is likely that these retrograde and illegal moves will considerably set back efforts to combat the massive problem of HIV AIDS in the African sub-continent.”

Hopefully this trend of denouncing homophobia from nations outside of Africa, much like what’s happened in Uganda, will be a trend to set the standard for human rights which provides equal protections for and urges the decriminalization of being a member of the LGBT community.

Steven Monjeza (L) and Tiwonge Chimbalanga sit in a pick-up truck before appearing at a magistrate court in Blantyre January 4, 2010.

Gay’s May Not Face Death Penalty in Uganda

Jason Shaw reports

It’s being reported that gay people in Uganda, may not now face the death penalty after president Yoweri Museveni, bowed to international pressure and opposed the new legislation which would have seen gay people face sentenced to hard labour and death.

The Ugandan President told colleagues that the bill is too ‘harsh’ and this week encouraged the ruling National Resistance Movement Party to reverse the death sentence part of the law.

In the proposed bill, there is a section that states “anyone convicted of a homosexual act, which includes touching someone of the same sex with the intent of committing a homosexual act, would face life imprisonment” President Museveni has not made it clear, where he stands on that part of the law yet, although it’s likely he does, given his previous stance on homosexuality.

This bill promotes hatred and fear in the African nation and could seriously set back the strong efforts that have been made in combating HIV/AIDS in the country. Perhaps even halting aid being given to the country and those that suffer with AIDS. It’s a bill that increases the prejudice against homosexuality which is already strong in the country. There are many cases of discrimination, hatred and on occasion mob violence. Being gay in Uganda is difficult and sometimes dangerous, however, the law also has draft provisions that could also mean those Ugandan’s living overseas could be extradited if they engage in homosexual activity.

“The death penalty is likely to be removed,” James Nsaba Buturo, Uganda’s minister of state for ethics and integrity, said in a press release. “The president doesn’t believe in killing gays. I also don’t believe in it. I think gays can be counseled and they stop the bad habit.”

“Although the president is against some parts of the bill, the bill has to stay. It is not allowed in African culture. We have to protect the children in schools who are being recruited into homosexual activities.” claims the ruling party spokeswoman Mary Karoro Okurut, who supports the hateful bill.

Lesbian and gay rights are very limited on the African continental, homosexuality is punishable by death in 3 countries currently (Sudan, Nigeria and Mauritania) and illegal in no less than 38 other nations. South Africa is the most liberal and allows gay marriage.

“Homosexual” Couple Arrested in Malawi!

Two gay men have been arrested in Malawi after getting engaged are to be charged with gross public indecency, police say.

“We arrested them because they committed an offense; homosexuality in Malawi is illegal,” a police spokesman, Davie Chingwalu told the BBC in England on it’s website.

Tiwonge Chimbalanga and Steven Monjeza had held a traditional engagement ceremony on Saturday, attracting hundreds of curious onlookers. They are believed to be the very first gay couple in Malawi to ever do so.

However, Malawi, just like most of the African continent, is not the most liberal in it’s views of, or acceptance of homosexuality. In Malawi it still holds a maximum prison sentence of 14 years !

Tiwonge and Steven are being held in separate cells in Blantyre, the biggest city in Malawi, until their case is heard, which is not likely to be until next Monday, as the judiciary is on its Christmas recess until then.

Malawi is a deeply conservative society, however there have been recent movements in that respect and a group of campaigners have come together in order to create and form a gay rights organization, Centre for the Development of People – (CEDEP).

CEDEP’s executive director, Gift Trapence, says the laws used to arrest the couple are invalid because they in odds to the Bill of Rights, written in the 1995 constitution. “Even if you arrest them or charge them for 20 years, you cannot change their sexual orientation. They are what they are. – So the issue is in a democratic era – if you are arresting people based on their sexual orientation, are you doing justice to the fundamental human rights of these individuals?” he said in an interview for the BBC.

It had been hoped a new wave of openness and tolerance was about to sweep through Malawi after recent comments by the government, which recognize the existence of homosexuals in Malawi and often calls on them to come out so as to help in the fight against the Aids pandemic, which is running at around 14% of the nations 13 million citizens.

Jason Shaw, Brighton, England

Jason Shaw’s own personal blog is The Seafront Diaries

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