Malawi Needs the Freedom to Marry

One reason I argue for full marriage equality and equality in personal relations is that denial of freedom in one way often contributes to denial in freedom other ways. I’ve already pointed out that Malawi is moving to eliminate polygamy. Now there’s this story from the same country.

Tiwonge Chimbalanga, a 20-year-old hotel janitor, and his unemployed partner Steven Monjeza, 26, were arrested the day after they celebrated their engagement with a party at the hotel where Chimbalanga worked — an apparent first in Malawi.

And now a judge has convicted these two men of “crimes.”

The couple were convicted of unnatural acts and gross indecency under laws dating from the colonial era.

How can it be unnatural for two grown people to love each other? They could be sentenced up to fourteen years in prison.

These two men should be allowed to marry. Anyone should be allowed to marry the consenting partner(s) of their choosing. It is time for people to get with it and stop imposing their hatred and ignorance on others.