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Madonna Condemns Malawi Gay Sentence


MADONNA CLOSE BLOND WAVY X390 (GETTY) | ADVOCATE.COM

Madonna has issued a statement condemning the decision by a Malawi court to sentence gay couple Steven Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga to 14 years in prison for "gross indecency" and "unnatural acts" for having an engagement ceremony last year.

Many have been calling on the singer to issue a statement. She has adopted two children from Malawi and is building an orphanage there.

Madonna wrote, "I am shocked and saddened by the decision made today by the Malawian court, which sentenced two innocent men to prison. As a matter of principle, I believe in equal rights for all people, no matter what their gender, race, color, religion, or sexual orientation. Today, Malawi took a giant step backward. The world is filled with pain and suffering; therefore, we must support our basic human right to love and be loved. 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."

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Reader Comments
  • Name: Iain Stringer
    Date posted: 6/3/2010 5:36:24 PM
    Hometown: London

    Comment:

    Go on girl!!! regardless of anything!!!! inc all types of gender (she said gender and there are more than two- probably as many as there are personalities and individuals etc.... she can't list everything!!). Don't miss Madonna's important point and stance against liberty, freedom, love.

  • Name: Kev
    Date posted: 5/21/2010 5:54:33 PM
    Hometown: Leeds

    Comment:

    She should stop all money she is putting into that country, Money talks goes the saying.

  • Name: Caleb
    Date posted: 5/21/2010 2:46:33 PM
    Hometown: atlanta

    Comment:

    Just when I think, you couldn't get ANY dumber....you go and do a thing like this, Madonna.. ...and TOTALLY redeem yourself! ::high fives::

  • Name: Richard Noble
    Date posted: 5/21/2010 2:05:25 PM
    Hometown: Palm Springs

    Comment:

    Thank you Madonnna.

  • Name: Jacob
    Date posted: 5/21/2010 1:36:29 PM
    Hometown: Tulsa, OK

    Comment:

    Several comments have alleged that one of these two identifies as a woman, or transgendered. I'm not disputing this at all, just wondering where this information was obtained since I've never heard it from any news source. Can you recommend a more thorough, descriptive article to read on the case?

  • Name: Chris
    Date posted: 5/21/2010 10:32:46 AM
    Hometown: Brooklyn

    Comment:

    It would have made more sense to title this "Madonna Condemns Malawi transphobia" or something else using the word transgender, whiuch is what Tiwo identifies as. Really disgraceful, Advocate, to contribute to erasing her experience and identity during this time when she is being publicly humiliated by being forced to dress and pretend to be a man because of this hateful, ignorant court. Also, the real problem here is the hate mongering brand of Christianity that has taken root in Malawi and elsewhere in sub Saharan Africa. That, not poverty, is the root cause of this vicious hatred and violence against LGBTQ people. Thanks a lot, Rick Warren. I hope you're proud: you have completely inverted Jesus' message of love into a message of violent hatred.

  • Name: chris
    Date posted: 5/21/2010 9:51:30 AM
    Hometown: boston

    Comment:

    Cut off every single dime of support, aid, and business for this shithole of a Country....let them starve in their own sh*t for all I care. Proof that our UN is pathetic on GLBT Equality issues....

  • Name: OttoMad77
    Date posted: 5/21/2010 9:16:33 AM
    Hometown: PDX

    Comment:

    Thank God Madonna has spoken! Now, we can all sit back with a sigh of relief.

  • Name: kevin
    Date posted: 5/21/2010 9:03:21 AM
    Hometown: sandiego

    Comment:

    well its about time Madonna you spoke up about this situation in your beloved Malawi....

  • Name: BruceLD
    Date posted: 5/21/2010 3:54:54 AM
    Hometown: Vancouver, B.C. Canada

    Comment:

    Madonna should tell the Malawi government that if they stopped spending so much money on persecuting and punishing gays and lesbians that the money could be better spent on feeding orphan children, medicine, etc. Malawi might also start to get tourist dollars that could help in creating jobs for the people and stimulate their economy. I guess persecuting and punishing gays and lesbians is more important than feeling children and creating jobs in a country that claims to be so damn poor and relies on foreign aid. What gays and lesbians aren't the enemy. It's the government sanctioned persecution and continual promotion of ignorance of the people that are the real enemies. Malawi really needs to reconsider their priorities.



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