Malawi's New President Vows Repeal of Gay Criminalization

Multiple sources report that Malawi’s new president said in a Friday address that she wants to repeal the country’s laws that criminalize same-sex relationships.

This formed part of President Joyce Banda’s very first state of the nation address.

Reports the BBC:

President Joyce Banda has said Malawi will overturn its ban on homosexual acts – the first African country to do so since 1994.

[...]

Several Western leaders have recently said they would cut aid to countries which did not recognise gay rights.

Mrs Banda took power last month after her predecessor, Bingu wa Mutharika, died of a heart attack.

A Malawian man and a trans woman were convicted of homosexual acts in 2010.

After Western nations threatened potential sanctions former president Mutharika decided to pardon the couple on “humanitarian grounds” but said they had “committed a crime against our culture, against our religion, and against our laws”. The media circus surrounding the court case meant the couple were made virtual pariahs.

President Banda’s desire to decriminalize LGBTs does not however make this a done deal.

The Speaker for the Malawi Assembly has already said he will oppose attempts to bring to the floor a bill legalizing homosexuality. This comes as religious institutions in the state heap on pressure for lawmakers to stick to the Church’s definition of what constitutes moral conduct.

It remains to be seen whether President Banda has the political currency to overcome such resistance, however this will largely be considered a landmark moment as Banda would be the first African leader outside of South Africa to speak out in such strong terms in favor of decriminalization.

Malawi’s “First Openly Gay Couple” Convicted — Take Action!

Malawi’s Anti-Gay Sweep: ‘We Will Arrest Them All’ Says Police Spokesperson

Image used under the Creative Commons Attribution License with thanks to Back2Black Festival.

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Huber F.

2:04AM PST on Feb 4, 2013

February 4
send a green star

Charlie C.

6:52AM PDT on Jun 15, 2012

how does decriminalizing a moral wrong make it palatable as incest,bestiality,child molesting,molesting corpses etc???
watch out that you be not amongst them...........AN UNSEEN BLOODLESS HAND IS DRAWING THE LINE BETWEEN THOSE WHO OBEY THE CREATOR AND KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS AND THOSE WHO CHOOSE TO FOLLOW THEIR LUSTS.

June 15
send a green star

Rin S.

6:45PM PDT on May 25, 2012

Amazing to hear!
And to Sandy E -
No, it's not going to save civilisation, but it's a significant step forward.

May 25
send a green star

James C.

3:50PM PDT on May 23, 2012

Sandy E.

I take it from your comments that you are not interested in or approve of homosexuality? If that is your opinion, you are perfectly entitled to say so. However, you posted to a topic that is clearly related to the treatment of homosexuality in part of Africa, so one cannot be surprised that all the posts mention this. I know Malawi well and have been involved as a medical adviser in several health-related issues over there. The steps taken by the new President will have far reaching beneficial affects for everyone there, way beyond those who are actually gay. It is well-known that some in Malawi settle feuds by accusing another of being a ‘homosexual’. This is a very quick and easy way to settle old scores as very little evidence is needed to get someone arrested and jailed (in the most horrendous conditions). Please spare a thought for all those on Malawi who have suffered under previous regimes, be they gay or not.

May 23
send a green star

3:29PM PDT on May 23, 2012

It is good news to hear of an all too rare flash of compassion shown by an African leader, but it should be pointed out that laws against gay people often claim others as victims too. I was involved in the case of a couple in Malawi who were arrested and jailed, accused of homosexuality. The female partner who was said by the court to be male, was actually intersex and identified as female (she was unlucky not to have been born in South Africa). One does not necessarily have to condone homosexuality, but to advocate the arrest, torture, imprisonment and execution of gay people is a far worse way to behave.

Rebecca S.

8:57PM PDT on May 22, 2012

good to hear!