• Malawi: Suspension of Anti-Gay Laws Draws Mixed Reactions

    Radio Netherlands Worldwide, 9 November 2012

    A decision by Malawi authorities to suspend anti-homosexual laws in the predominantly religious southern African nation of 13 million is sparking heated debate. While human rights activists applaud the announcement, some socially conservative Malawians feel their government should not be copycatting everything from Western countries or nodding to whatever donors demand.

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  • unreligious
    Nov 9 2012, 09:39

    It's always humorous to hear Christian leaders in Africa claim that homosexuality is a western import and against their cultural traditions. Hate to clue you in but Christianity is not indigenous to Africa and was imported and imposed on you by your colonial overlords. Why don't you reject Christianity as a colonial relic and go back to your indigenous religions (many of which accepted gay people)? Why do you feel that western donors should just give you economic support without strings attached? He who pays the piper calls the tunes. You don't like western nations attaching restrictions to their money then don't take it.

  • julietr
    Nov 9 2012, 10:11

    I look at the irrational scapegoating of homosexuals in Africa as no different from the scapegoating of Jews in Europe, or black people in the US. In a decade or so, when LGBT rights are mainstream across the continent, Africans will be absolutely ashamed of their irrational prejudice against gay people, they're going to realize anti-gay prejudice has hurt millions more people across the globe than homosexuality ever has. The truth is that gay neighbors work, go to school, farm, experience joys and occasional hardships, and have lives that are not much different from straight neighbors. Being gay is NOT immoral. Gay rights are human rights.

  • Musyoka
    Nov 10 2012, 05:05

    Dear Malawians blessed be those who seek the light, your authorities have! am a Kenyan and strongly surpport the suspension and eventual abolishing the so called "human rights" of homosexual......and Gaysim! God bless u God bless Malawi! job well done!