Madonna "Shocked and Saddened" Gay Men in Malawi Sentenced to Prison
Credit: Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage.com
Madonna decries the ruling handed down Thursday in Blantyre, Malawi that will send a gay couple to prison.
"Today, Malawi took a giant step backward," the singer told UsMagazine.com in a statement. "The world is filled with pain and suffering; therefore, we must support our basic human right to love and be loved."
Tiwonge Chimbalanga, 33, and Steven Monjeza, 25, were convicted of unnatural acts and gross indecency and sentenced to 14 years of hard labor in prison.
Homosexuality is seen as an abomination in the South African country and most gays, lesbians and transgender people do not show public affections. The couple held an engagement party that was later splashed across the front page of a local newspaper. They were arrested two days later without bail.
According to the New York Times, Magistrate Nyakwawa Usiwa Usiwa said he was especially offended that the couple celebrated their relationship in public with an engagement party.
"I do not believe Malawi is ready at this point in time to see its sons, or cohabitating, or conducting engagement ceremonies," he said after issuing the ruling. "Malawi is not ready to smile at her daughters marrying each other. Let posterity judge this judgment."
Madonna, 51, has four kids: Lourdes, 13, Rocco, 9, plus David, 5 (adopted from Malawi in 2006) and Mercy, 4 (adopted from Malawi last year). She is the co-founder of the charity, Raising Malawi, and laid the foundation stone for a $15 million-dollar girls' academy in the country last year.
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"I am shocked and saddened by the decision made by the Malawian court, which sentenced two innocent men to prison," she tells Us. "As a matter of principle, I believe in equal rights for all people, no matter what their gender, race, color, religion, or sexual orientation."
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Although the couples lawyer Mauya Msuku will most likely appeal the conviction, human rights activists have called for widespread protests around the world.
"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," Madonna said.
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56THE ORDAINED SLAVERY AND BIBLE FAMILY VALUE STRUCTURE BY "GOD YHVH" HIS OWN WORDS GOOGLE "BIBLE SLAVERY" FOR BOTH QUOTES IN THE BIBLE AND HISTORY, NEVER DID THE BIBLE TELL THE SLAVE OWNERS TO FREE THEIR SLAVES, IT ALSO PERMIT A MAN TO SELL HIS FAMILY INTO SLAVERY TO PAY OFF HIS DEBTS, SO HOW MORAL IS THAT? THAT THE ABOMINATION, SLAVERY SO ARE THE US CONSTITUTION'S 13TH/14 AMENDMENTS AND THE "40ACERS AND A MULE, REPARARTIONS" AGAINST THE "GOD YHVH" WORD? Passages in Exodus state that female slaves who were sold into slavery by their fathers would be slaves forever. A corresponding passage in Exodus contradicts this; it required female slaves to be given their freedom after 6 years. Exodus 21:1-4, DeuteronoBIBLE SLAVERY LAWS ARE: KJV Exodus 20:17, Deuteronomy 5:21 BEATING SLAVE AS $MONEY ,Exodus 21:20-21, Exodus 21:26-27,Emancipation of Slaves: Slaves in ancient Israel were automatically emancipated after 6 years of slavery, but only if they were Jewish. However, if the slave owner "gave" the slave a wife, the owner could keep the wife and any children as his property. my 15:12-18, Exodus 21:7, Leviticus 25:44-46:,Leviticus 25:48-53, Exodus 21:8,Leviticus 19:20-22 ( BIBLE NEW TESTAMENT ROM16:16, 1Cor 16:20, 2Cor13:12, 1Thes5:26 1Pet5:14 men are told to KISS Each other WIKIPEDIA MALAKIA =COWARD NOT EFFEMINATE NOR SAME SEX, IT'S AN ON PURPOSE MISTRANSLATION TO PLACE PEOPLE IN FALSE LIGHT IN PUBLIC OPINION BY THE IRSc ode501 NON-TAX PAYING CHURCH TAX EVADING S-CORPORATIONS, AGAINST ALL TAX PAYING US CITIZENS 28USC3002 If you believe that Lev. 18's comment is true, then you also need to believe Lev. 11 stating that you can't eat pork, rabbit, shellfish, etc...because it's an ABOMINATION or Lev. 15:19-30 stating that women on their periods are unclean and need to take offerings to priests to be allowed back into the church after their monthlies. Or some of my favorite: Lev. 19:16-18 – [Don't be a gossip, but never hesitate to speak up in court, especially if your testimony can save someone's life. 17Don't hold grudges. On the other hand, it's wrong not to correct someone who needs correcting. 18Stop being angry and don't try to take revenge. I am the LORD, and I command you to love others as much as you love yourself.] Lev. 19:19 – [Breed your livestock animals only with animals of the same kind, and don't plant two kinds of seed in the same field or wear clothes made of different kinds of material.] - How's that poly-cotton blended shirt feel? Lev. 19:27-28 – [I forbid you to shave any part of your head or beard or to cut and tattoo yourself.] Or one that I think is extremely relevant right now: Lev. 19:33-34 – [Don't mistreat any foreigners who live in your land. Instead, treat them as well as you treat citizens and love them as much as you love yourself. Remember, you were once foreigners in the land of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.] I hope Arizona or Bible thumping border guards didn't see that last one. They'll end up going to hell. Don't cherry pick. Either believe and follow it all, or none of it. Otherwise it's extremely hypocritical to denounce gays and foreigners while eating a bacon sandwich and wearing a cotton-wool sweater that shows off the tattoo on your clean-shaven neck
you people are sick, disgusting human beings. How in the world can you not accept gay people for being who they are? they are humans like all of you. If God is the creator of all then he created gays, why would he create something he didn't accept? Gay is the new Black. no one liked black people 50 years ago and now children at school cringe at the fact that something like slavery happened. This is the same thing happening for gay people. In 50 years children will cringe at the fact that gay people weren't aloud to be married in America because the "bible" said so. In 50 years children wont even know what the bible is. I don't even believe in the bible so why the hell is it making the rules for what i can and can't do with my life? While all this is going on priests are raping little boys, are they going to hell? of course not, because God loves the child raping priests and God especially loves the Malawian men who rape babies and women but god forbid the peace seeking gays walk the earth they are the ones going to hell, apparently.
i meant to say *if i were you i'd appreciate what you have instead of complaining about what you don't have.
keep rambling SHAIARRA. you make no sense. so you're going to justify homosexuality with vegan food sources and estrogen? seriously, find something else better to do with your time. you know you wish you were straight. if you're comfy in your own skin, why the need to force your agenda on ppl. if i were you i'd appreciate what you have instead of appreciating what you don't have. once you stop complaining you will find peace. i never said i don't like gay ppl. i just said it's not normal. that's my opinion and it doesn't mean i'm hateful. how do you think the human race can continue? with two gays? i think not. use your brain and some commons sense for a change. obviously you don't value the importance of a mother and father. were you raised by a mother and father? was the answer yes? think for a moment that you would not be on this Earth today if your mom and dad hadn't met up. so why are you so against heterosexuality? the bottomline is this -- children need a male a female figure in the home. go research the importance of being raised by a mother and father. you will learn alot. goodbye.
Tomislav -- no why don't YOU go to the loony bin. I come from a normal family (mother + father) and am happy! I was born in a normal arranegment. Thank goodness. There's nothing loony about it. And look at YOUR situation. A bit strange, isn't it. Poor kid. You know you're in a screwy arrangment. If you're so happy being gay then SHUT UP. Most of the world is straight anyway. Good luck with your uphill battle. Why compare yourself to a biblical character who may be fiction? So what about what's in the bible. Only straight families can produce family units where the child shares the DNA of both parents. If you think father/uncle arrangements are normal, sorry, you're the one who's crazy. I'm alot smarter than you think.
THAT WOULD ALSO MEAN Both Natural/ Synthetic sources are the causes, and IT'S NOT REALLY A CHOICE when it's (ESTROGEN) is in 100% of the known Vegan Food Source alone,its Forced Genetics and Hormonal Re-interaction BY NATURAL "GOD YHVH" FOODS, ALL MALES ARE AFFECTED BY IT, (All Scientist/ MD/ Pharmacist / Psychologist, AMA , FDA, DEPT OF AGRECULTURE etc knows what Estrogen do to ALL MALES ) to some extent AND that it's Naturally (BY "GOD") in Vagan Food Sources FOR MEN TO EAT EFFEMINIZING "GOD" ESTROGEN FOOD SOURCE, IF NOT THEN EXPLAIN "GOD" REASON The Nay Sayers should look in the Mirror at themselves and not BE Freudian about others while in denile of there own "GOD" ESTROGEN Hormonal Consumption. ESTROGEN FOOD PRODUCTS THAT EFFECT ALL MALES ARE:Soy (Tofu), Chickpea (Hummus), Lentils, Kidney (red) Beans, Breast Mike, Honey ,Bees Wax, Rye, Barley, Millet Lima Beans, Clover, Flax Seed, Fennel , APPLES, GRAPES, CHERRIES, Yams (Sweet Potatoes), Alfalfa Mushrooms, OLIVES, TOMATOES, MEATS CUCUMBERS, Spices, Berries, Ginger, Turmeric , SAGE, ALL NUTS, FERTILIZERS, PESTICIDES, Rices, Oats, BREWERS YEAST (BEER), Curry, Turmeric, Black Eye Peas, EGGS, WHEAT GARLIC, CARROTS, DATES, Pumkins, PLUMS, LETTUCE, PAPAYA, Spit Peas, Beets, Egg Plants,POTATOES, COOKING OILS, ALL PEPPERS, Pomegranates. a lot of "SOUL FOODS and VEGAN DIETS" "Kosher" "Halal" etc contain these very Vegetables and spices AND THERE ARE MORE ( YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT)
So AGAIN, if its a "Sin" and "UNNATURAL" then why does "GOD YHVH" put ESTROGEN in the NATURE FOOD SOURCE THEN?!, THATS CALLED AN ABUSIVE SET UP "FRAMED" the MALE person is subjected to HORMONAL ESTROGEN DEVELOPMENT THAT IS NOT THEIR CHOICE (AND SUBJECTED TO TERRORISTIC HARRASSMENTS ) is proof that it is a NATURAL GLANDULAR/ GENETICS RE-ENFORCED INTERACTION, i.e. its in the "GOD" made ESTROGEN Food Source [REMEMBER GENESIS] " the vegetation is for meat" FOR MEN TO EAT EFFEMINIZING "GOD" ESTROGEN FOOD SOURCE TO DEVELOP HIS MIND AND BODY CRITICAL LOGIC AND REASONING, IF SOMETHING IS "UNNATURAL/SIN" "GOD" AS THE LAW GIVER SHOULD NOT PUT IT IN THE FOOD/ WATER SOURCE THEN, JAMES SAYS"GOD IS NOT TEMPTED NOR TEMPT HE ANY MAN", SO DOES ESTROGEN IN MANS FOOD /WATER/ AIR TEMPTATION IN DEVELOPMENT SOME WILL SAY THIS IS BLASPHEMY,BUT I DO REMIND THEM"TRUTH CANNOT BLASPHEME"ACTS"WHAT GOD"HAS CLEANED CALL THOU NOT UNCLEAN"
GENESIS 1:11-12, 29-31, 2:5-9 AS THE RASTA SAYS "THE HERB IS GOOD AND BLESSED BY"GOD"HIMSELF FOR FOOD , MEAT, AND MEDICINE." (BUT WHY DOES "GOD" INCLUDE ESTROGEN IN MOST KNOWN VEGAN FOOD SOURCES IF ITS CALLED "UNNATURAL" BY AN HERMAPHRODITE YHVH "GOD" and the FOODS that dont have great amounts (ESTROGEN INHIBITING FOODS) have enzymes,minerals and other chemistries that both activate and enhance the activity of the enzyme Aromatase (an ENZYME IN MALES LIVER THAT CONVERTS TESTOSTERONE INTO ESTROGEN) WHY WOULD "GOD" DO THIS? ITS "UNNATURAL") PARENTS FEED THIS TO THEIR KIDS (SONS) DAILY 24/7/365 (NATURAL VEGAN ESTROGEN) i.e. PLATES FULL OF ESTROGEN AM BREACKFAST/ NOON LUNCH/ NIGHT DINNER AND OTHER SNACKS, IS NATURALLY BY "GOD"s NATURE TO FEED ESTROGEN ALL THE TIME TO MALES FOR DEVELOPEMENT ! So AGAIN, if its a "Sin" and "UNNATURAL" then why does "GOD YHVH" put ESTROGEN in the NATURE FOOD SOURCE THEN?!, THATS CALLED AN ABUSIVE SET UP "FRAMED" the MALE person is subjected to HORMONAL ESTROGEN DEVELOPMENT THAT IS NOT THEIR CHOICE (AND SUBJECTED TO TERRORISTIC HARRASSMENTS ) is proof that it is a NATURAL GLANDULAR/ GENETICS RE-ENFORCED INTERACTION, i.e. its in the "GOD" made ESTROGEN Food Source [REMEMBER GENESIS] " the vegetation is for meat" FOR MEN TO EAT EFFEMINIZING "GOD" ESTROGEN FOOD SOURCE TO DEVELOP HIS MIND AND BODY CRITICAL LOGIC AND REASONING, IF SOMETHING IS "UNNATURAL/SIN" "GOD" AS THE LAW GIVER SHOULD NOT PUT IT IN THE FOOD/ WATER SOURCE THEN, JAMES SAYS"GOD IS NOT TEMPTED NOR TEMPT HE ANY MAN", SO DOES ESTROGEN IN MANS FOOD /WATER/ AIR TEMPTATION IN DEVELOPMENT SOME WILL SAY THIS IS BLASPHEMY,BUT I DO REMIND THEM"TRUTH CANNOT BLASPHEME"ACTS"WHAT GOD"HAS CLEANED CALL THOU NOT UNCLEAN"
GENESIS 1:11-12, 29-31, 2:5-9 AS THE RASTA SAYS "THE HERB IS GOOD AND BLESSED BY"GOD"HIMSELF FOR FOOD , MEAT, AND MEDICINE." (BUT WHY DOES "GOD" INCLUDE ESTROGEN IN MOST KNOWN VEGAN FOOD SOURCES IF ITS CALLED "UNNATURAL" BY AN HERMAPHRODITE YHVH "GOD" and the FOODS that dont have great amounts (ESTROGEN INHIBITING FOODS) have enzymes,minerals and other chemistries that both activate and enhance the activity of the enzyme Aromatase (an ENZYME IN MALES LIVER THAT CONVERTS TESTOSTERONE INTO ESTROGEN) WHY WOULD "GOD" DO THIS? ITS "UNNATURAL") PARENTS FEED THIS TO THEIR KIDS (SONS) DAILY 24/7/365 (NATURAL VEGAN ESTROGEN) i.e. PLATES FULL OF ESTROGEN AM BREACKFAST/ NOON LUNCH/ NIGHT DINNER AND OTHER SNACKS, IS NATURALLY BY "GOD"s NATURE TO FEED ESTROGEN ALL THE TIME TO MALES FOR DEVELOPEMENT ! So AGAIN, if its a "Sin" and "UNNATURAL" then why does "GOD YHVH" put ESTROGEN in the NATURE FOOD SOURCE THEN?!, THATS CALLED AN ABUSIVE SET UP "FRAMED" the MALE person is subjected to HORMONAL ESTROGEN DEVELOPMENT THAT IS NOT THEIR CHOICE (AND SUBJECTED TO TERRORISTIC HARRASSMENTS ) is proof that it is a NATURAL GLANDULAR/ GENETICS RE-ENFORCED INTERACTION, i.e. its in the "GOD" made ESTROGEN Food Source [REMEMBER GENESIS] " the vegetation is for meat" FOR MEN TO EAT EFFEMINIZING "GOD" ESTROGEN FOOD SOURCE TO DEVELOP HIS MIND AND BODY CRITICAL LOGIC AND REASONING, IF SOMETHING IS "UNNATURAL/SIN" "GOD" AS THE LAW GIVER SHOULD NOT PUT IT IN THE FOOD/ WATER SOURCE THEN, JAMES SAYS"GOD IS NOT TEMPTED NOR TEMPT HE ANY MAN", SO DOES ESTROGEN IN MANS FOOD /WATER/ AIR TEMPTATION IN DEVELOPMENT SOME WILL SAY THIS IS BLASPHEMY,BUT I DO REMIND THEM"TRUTH CANNOT BLASPHEME"ACTS"WHAT GOD"HAS CLEANED CALL THOU NOT UNCLEAN"
it's interesting to see how meny people need to be put in mental institution. for you religious fanatics and fairytail belivers, biblical king david was gay. read the bible first and then you can say something about religion and homosexuality. clementina, please go away in some loony-bin and throw away the key. you'll do a big favour for normal people. Madonna, good for you and for us normal people to have a voice strong as yours. Now stop giving them your money and you'll see how soon the low will change.
I applaud Madonna for her actions against 2 Human Beings. Human. Emotion. Blood that runs through their veins is no less than any of ours. When change begins, its often seen as a waste of time or nose'n around in affairs that are not deemed to be our business. So naturally there are rotten posters here combating it. I say good on Madonna for standing up for whats actually right. She has global power and if she can use her muscle flexing ability then do it! Do it! Do it! Enough is enough, this is just a tip of the iceburg of what Madonna has done for this country, she has provided so much resources for this country so worse off then anyone in North America will ever know, rich or poor. Spoiled hateful posters on here have no idea what they are saying or talking about. Fight back.
So are other many people. Madonna should know by now this a mean world. Gay life style will not be accepted in certain third world countries. I'm sorry the cases of two men were handled unfairly& poorly. There's nothing really can Madonna or anybody can do right now. Everyone is resposible for their actions.
Anybody who uses such lame words as 'homophobe' and 'bigot' as part of their vocabulary need to grow the he.. up. Seriously, grow up! Homosexuality will never be a normal orientation. Man is supposed to attract woman, woman is supposed to attract man. And guess what happens when they have sex? A baby is born that SHARES the DNA of both partners and a family unit is created. There's nothing biblical about it. It's the way life is supposed to work. I'm sick of these perverts thinking they are normal. They are not normal one bit. They can have sex til the cows come home and guess what? No baby will ever be born. IDIOTS. GO FIND OUT WHY YOU HAVE AVERSIONS TO THE OPPOSITE GENDER. They come up w/ stupid excuses like "gays can reproduce." Umm, no they cannot. Adopting is not reproducing. Going thru a medical procedure and accepting donated egg/sperm is not reproduction either. Reproduction involveds sleeping with your love one to produce children. Children deserve to be born the proper way and raised the proper way -- by a MOTHER and FATHER. A child who has two gay parents will NEVER be related to both of them. NEVER.
Sorry Paul, not everyone is hiding behind the bible. I'm not even religious and I think homosexuality is wrong. Allowing yourself to love your own gender in a SEXUAL manner is wrong. The azz is not meant for sex dummy! It's where you know what comes out. I will never accept homosexuality. It's a disgusting orientation. The gays will never ever have biological children together. Mothers and fathers create sons and daughters, not uncles and fathers.
And yet when a pastor stands outside of an abortion clinic (peacefully, by the way) and simply holds up a sign that says "God loves you" he gets thrown in jail . . . and THAT'S ok. Praise God, he has touched the lives of the inmates he's come in contact with and they've given their lives to God. So, I guess it wasn't in vain.
To quote Archbishop Tutu "Too many 'christians' think God is a Christian" when they make narrow-minded, bigoted, homophobic, hate thy neighbour comments here ..... Well done Madonna!
US Magazine, I am appalled at your apparent lack of basic geographical knowledge. This article misleads readers into believing South Africa is a homophobic country when in actual fact South Africa sets the standard for gay rights and same sex unions, unlike the USA. Please edit your statement "Homosexuality is seen as an abomination in the South African country" .... by rather referring to Malawi as a Southern African state. Thanks.
It's so funny how many people hide behind the Bible to justify their hatred of gay men and women. What did Jesus ever say about gay people? NOTHING! In THIS country at least there is a separation of church and state. It should be that way everywhere! No religion has the right to impose it's views on others! It's WRONG!
So many bigots on this site! It's surprising to me that so many Americans actually AGREE with jailing gay men who are in a relationship together. You can have your own religious beliefs, no one is arguing with that. The fact of the matter is if you don't believe in gay marriage DON'T MARRY A GAY PERSON! Stay out of other peoples bedrooms!
to hell wt ya view! tek ya monies out of the country Madonna!we hav lived without u in the past and we can survive without u!we up hold the values of our culture and Christianity n we just cant bow down to ya money!they wanted to test the law and they hav just got wat they wanted!wats the big deal!rights shud cum wt responsibilities! Wen in Malawi do as We Malawians Do!