In Malawi, gay couple Steven Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga were sentenced May 20 to 14 years of hard labor in prison after being convicted of unnatural acts and gross indecency, according to the New York Times.
The sentence was the maximum the couple could have received.
Magistrate Nyakwawa Usiwa Usiwa said, “I do not believe Malawi is ready at this point in time to see its sons getting married to other sons, or cohabitating, or conducting engagement ceremonies. Malawi is not ready to smile at her daughters marrying each other. Let posterity judge this judgment.”
Human-rights groups immediately condemned the sentencing. Mark Heywood, who leads the South Africa-based AIDS Law Project, said, “We are calling for our government in South Africa to denounce what was done and call on the Malawian government to quash the court’s decision.” In a statement, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said, “The criminalization of sexual orientation and gender identity is unconscionable, and this case mars the human rights record of Malawi,” according to WireUpdate.com.