PAC top brass to blame for stalled talks
06-07-2008 13:32 door Richard Chirombo637 times viewedContinue reading
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- Public Affairs Committee [PAC] top hierarchy has been accused of playing a role in the failed mediation talks between president Bingu wa Mutharika and the opposition. PAC initiated the talks to help solve the political impasse between Mutharika and UDF national Chairman Bakili Muluzi on one hand, and the opposition Malawi Congress Party which initially denied having any problem with government. Bruno Banda, Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace [CCJP] Senior Field Officer, in an interview in Blantyre attributed little progress by the parties involved in the talks to monopoly by PAC’s high ranking officials. He said: “ Civil society Organisations in the coun…
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ACB warns govt. officials
06-07-2008 13:30 door Richard Chirombo608 times viewedContinue reading
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- Anti-Corruption Bureau [ACB] Director Gustave Kaliwo has cautioned those in public positions now against crying foul when the graft-bursting body institutes investigations into their alleged corrupt practices, as that makes them prone to commit “crimes of opportunity”. Kaliwo said that is why some of the bureau’s investigations have involved United Democratic Front [UDF] officials who served under the Bakili Muluzi administration, since their public positions meant they had privileges in form of access to public funds. He was reacting to claims by the party’s officials accusing the ACB of political witch-hunting by continually targeting its membership in…
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Govt. dismisses donor interference claims in World Bank proj
06-07-2008 13:29 door Richard Chirombo671 times viewedContinue reading
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- Government has dismissed fears it may be forced to sacrifice Malawi’s interests in a bid to please development partners during the implementation phase of the World Bank- sponsored Rural Infrastructure Development Project. The project, designed to stimulate economic growth and the public service delivery system through increased access and reliability of the country’s infrastructure, is expected to start in September, late this year. The sentiments come in the wake of allegations that governments favour firms from the countries and regions of development partners financing such projects, an accusation it quashes off. Government came especially under a spate of criti…
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Procurement fraud blamed on ‘illegal’ officers
06-07-2008 13:27 door Richard Chirombo646 times viewedContinue reading
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- The Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply [CIPS], the highest grouping of the country’s procurement and supply chain officers, has blamed cases of alleged fraud and corruption involving procurement managers on unqualified personnel. CIPS’ President, Edward Jeke, in an interview in Blantyre, attributed such cases to organisations that engage the services of unqualified officers, people he said lacked the high ethical standards demanded by the profession. Jeke said such individuals had little regard for the trade making them susceptible to unethical practices, a move he claimed only soils the very image of qualified procurement and supply chain officers. “W…
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Banda dismisses talk of “rotten” treadle pumps
06-07-2008 13:26 door Richard Chirombo608 times viewedContinue reading
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- By Richard Chirombo Blantyre City South constituents have accused MP Jimmy Banda of delaying the distribution of treadle pumps President Bingu wa Mutharika allocated to all constituencies represented in the National Assembly, accusing him of letting the pumps “rot” in his warehouse. But Banda has dismissed the claims, describing them as machinations of opposition politicians who don’t wish him well. Manuel Mtambalika, one of the constituents who claim to have two acres of land in Chilobwe township but doesn’t harvest enough because of unreliable rains, said in an interview he had waited for the pumps for over seven months but was yet to receive them.…
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‘Hunger forced the children out’
06-07-2008 13:25 door Richard Chirombo669 times viewedContinue reading
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- The case where five children ran away from their Ndirande home should serve as a living example of the many problems child-headed households face, and compel Malawians to formulate conducive policies to ease their suffering, says one of the many youths who heads an all-children household. Everson Fositala, brother to the children who handed themselves over to Blantyre Police after failing to connect to their Ntcheu home district, said Tuesday in an interview in Blantyre he could not blame his little brothers and sisters for their action since the situation they were living in was simply not conducive to normal livelihood. “It is hunger that forced the children out. Most o…
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Employment Act to improve workers' conditions
06-07-2008 13:23 door Richard Chirombo561 times viewedContinue reading
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- The country’s workforce should expect improved conditions of service once government finishes reviewing provisions of the Employment Act, Southern Region Labour Officer Odridge Khunga has hinted. The development will also benefit the much neglected estate workers, one of the country’s lowest paid sectors, according to Khunga. Khunga disclosed this in Thyolo Saturday when the Institute for Policy Interaction [IPI] briefed estate managers on a new Employment Record Book introduced to help workers in plantations keep track of their work attendance and benefits. The Regional Labour Officer said it was in this regard that government had re-introduced the surveilla…
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Construction industry shuns external projects
06-07-2008 13:19 door Richard Chirombo996 times viewedContinue reading
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- Malawian construction firms shun away from projects outside the country, effectively rendering the country uncompetitive on the global scale. This has contributed to the ‘below average’ revenue the country receives through exports of services says the Institution of Engineers in Malawi. Institution President, Paul Kulemeka in Blantyre this week, said the situation was made worse, “sometimes”, when government chose to substitute local engineering consultants in projects involving foreign firms. “There is need for specific orientation of attachees at Malawi embassies, through a consultant, so that they are able to obtain relevant information on…
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Malawi's independence: some things never to forget
06-07-2008 13:17 door Richard Chirombo711 times viewedContinue reading
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- Today, Malawians celebrate Independence Day. Richard Chirombo looks back. What we call Malawi now first lived in the minds and hearts of the bold few who liberated it, well before it formally existed on the world political map as a sovereign state. They saw, in their minds, those great symbols of a nation state – flag, emblem, national anthem, head of state and government, passport, and currency– that their invented community could call its own. They got them at the cost of their own lives, because they wanted total happiness for all. That was done, long after some had already gone Yet after that was done, still there was no true happiness for all. Without true happ…
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Malawian women politicians disappoint gender activists
06-07-2008 12:54 door Richard Chirombo658 times viewedContinue reading
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- In her years as gender activist and Board Chairperson for the NGO Gender Network, Emma Kaliya has seen women politicians –still clad in their skirts and Zitenje; and still wearing the tag of proud, committed wives to their husbands- turn into men. “Most of the women we have interacted with in the past, and helped to mould into formidable politicians we see today started as ‘real’ women. They were humble and promised to look into the welfare of fellow women once propelled into power; that they would help pass legislation advancing the course of women,” says Kaliya. ”But once there, they forget all this and become men”. By this, she adds, she means…
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Menopause:Malawian women suffer in silence
06-07-2008 12:48 door Richard Chirombo852 times viewedContinue reading
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- If Anastasia Phiri had her way, she would have thrown the memories of one January night two years ago behind the folder of her mind and stop being the guilty-ridden woman she is today. It came barely two months after clocking 57- though there was nothing unusual about the day most Malawians would die dreaming to reach as for most, and keeping by the United Nations Development Programme projections on life expectancy, the clock stops at 39 years. “ That is before my husband died in May last year (2007). I woke up around mid-night, went straight to the kitchen where, for no specific reason, I took hold of the handle of an old hoe. Then the unexpected happened as I took it to the bedr…
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'Bingu obstackle to political amnesty'
03-07-2008 16:03 door Richard Chirombo640 times viewedContinue reading
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- Observers have accused president Bingu wa Mutharika of being the major hindrance to current mediation efforts aimed resolving the on going impasse between government and the country's opposition. The two sides have been rocked in a dead-rock that threatens to undo social-economic gains attained over the past four years. The issue is a dead-end on what should come first- section 65 of the Republican Constitution, or the national budget? It is a puzzle that both government and the opposition have failed to solve over the past four years, since Mutharika dumped the United Democratic Front (UDF) on February 05, 2005 to form his own Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). The embittered UDF…
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TNM unveils bold plans
02-07-2008 16:04 door Richard Chirombo599 times viewedContinue reading
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- Malawi's leading mobile service provider,TNM, has unveiled bold plans aimed at taking the country closer to the Information, Communication, and Technology (ICT) highway. The pioneer mobile service provider has embarked on a programme aimed at bringing communication at the door step of consumers through a massive network extension initiative, according to TNM Products Manager Daniel Makata. Makata said in Blantyre it was in the company's etho to make communication easy for most people, a fit often humpered by the meagre number of citizens who have access to tele-communication services. Less than 30 per cent of the population has access to a telephone, according to National Stati…
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Thither founding Malawi musicians?
20-06-2008 15:23 door Richard Chirombo745 times viewedContinue reading
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- They are united by two facts, Malawi's old music guards: Nationality and death. Of couse, they are Malawian. But, they also die poor. It is this poverty that pains one of the country's old music guards, Lommie Mafunga. He has sung at various fora. What tune hasn't he sang? He even won a competition of Malawi's acoustic musicians organised in 1988 by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). That is when music meant music- not these days when all it means are dis-jointed choral codes and too much noise. The instruments stopped to coordinate, now people sing for money: nolonger for joy, nolonger to entertain, nolonger an art. Just that, to make noise. And noise is po…
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Against all odds, Bingu still ticks
20-06-2008 14:40 door Richard Chirombo660 times viewedContinue reading
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- Malawi's political commentators and analysts agree that President Bingu wa Mutharika's reign might have not been one of the easiest, looking at the continued overtures of an opposition out to frustrate his economic endeavours and constant threats to reject his fiscal blue prints since 2004. But they all also unanimously agree that Mutharika is a strong character, who has managed to overcome his numerous political frustrations, and that under him, Malawi has registered a myriad of development strides unrivaled by former president Bakili Muluzi's regime. "That is what is needed of a leader; he should be accommodative, yes, but strong enough to stand firm on issues of na…
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Mhen urges media to specialise in health
10-06-2008 15:36 door Richard Chirombo645 times viewedContinue reading
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- The Malawi Health Equity Network (Mhen), a grouping of Malawian health-rights organisations, has asked government to make health services equitable for all if sustainable social-economic development is to be attained in line with Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) time frame. Malawi faces a myriad of health challenges, including poor remuneration for public health sector personnel, inadequate human resourse, as well as collapsing infrastructure. This is made worse by the prblem of brain-drain, where personnel leave the country in search of greener pastures, especially in the United Kingdom and USA. Ministry of Health officials, including Health Minister Khumbo Kachali, have often compla…
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Upper-Shire Anglican Diocese remembers HIV-positive people
29-05-2008 16:43 door Richard Chirombo818 times viewedContinue reading
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- The Anglican UpperShire Diocese says the problem of HIV and Aids has devastated households in South-Eastern Malawi that religious institutions were overwhelmed with orphans and vulnerable children looking for help, a development it attributes to stigma and descrimination rampant in Malawi. As a result, there has been an increased spate of families' and communities disintegration, as the HIV-positive continue to suffer incidences of discrimination. Malawi is one of the sub-Saharan countries whose societal-thread is very much strengthened by an extended family system, but the diocese has warned that that was now increasingly becoming rare as families focus on themselves for survival. …
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Mid-month fair irk exhibitors
21-05-2008 16:06 door Richard Chirombo886 times viewedContinue reading
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Participants to the on-going Malawi International Trade Fair have expressed disappointment with the timing of this year's fair, saying its mid-month fixing has put them in a fray over sales. - Esther Phiri, of Mbaweme Women in Business Association, said the group has made little turn-over during the first six days of the fair as compared to last year. "I think the timing is poor; it has cost us a lot of money to get organised and come here (all the way from Northern Malawi, some 600 Km), yey people are not forth-coming because it is mid-month. The Malawi Confederation of Commerce and Industry (organisers of the fair) would have done better," said Phiri at his pavilion on Tues…
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Malawian MPs ignorant of ATT
19-05-2008 10:25 door Richard Chirombo1725 times viewedContinue reading
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Most Malawian Members of Parliament (MP) are unaware about the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), two years after 153 member states of the United Nations voted in its favour for sustainable world peace in 2006. . - UN member states agreed during that year, at the UN General Assembly, on the need to have a plausible world treaty regulating the sale of small arms and light weapons. It was hoped that this would help control the proliferation of arms into 'blood' hands -people who would end up using them for human rights violations, especially in war-torn countries. According to research carried out by a local NGO, People's Federation for National Peace and Development (Pefenap)-one of t…
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Bingu condemned
13-05-2008 16:49 door Richard Chirombo952 times viewedContinue reading
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Civil Society organisations have accused president Bingu wa Mutharika of turning Malawi into a police state. - Their sentiments follows the alleged arrest of former Inspector General of Police, Joseph Iron, and Former Army Commander Joseph Chimbayo. Mutharika revealed on Friday that he had uncovered a plot by the opposition to usurp power from him using a controversial legislation, which empowers the speaker to declare vacant seats of MPs deemed to have crossed the floor by deserting parties that sponsored them into power. Malawi Human Rights Watch Executive Director, Billie Banda, said the arrests were ill-timed and could only work to threaten the electoral process in 2009, the year M…
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Youths fundraise for community PCs
08-05-2008 12:03 door Richard Chirombo912 times viewedContinue reading
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Concerned Youth Organisation (CYO) and Women for Fair Development (Wofad) have embarked on initives aimed at bringing Information and Communication Technology to Malawi's rural areas, a step they say will help towards complementing government efforts in bringing the country to the information highway. . - Malawi is one of the sub-Saharan African countries with the lowest ICT knowledge, a development government has often cited as being behind the country's back-waters' tag, as it remains relatively unknown to the outside world. Information and Civic Education Minister, Patricia Kaliati, who is also government spokesperson, said today in an interview apart from the hype brough…
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Human rights activists blame govt. on impasse
08-05-2008 11:25 door Richard Chirombo694 times viewedContinue reading
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Malawian Human Rights activists have blamed President Bingu wa Mutharika for the escalating political impasse in the country, adding the president has even complicated matters by allowing Members of Parliament on the government side to pass important national bills in the absence of boycotting opposition MPs. - The country's parliament has for the first time since independence gone without a quoram during the opening of the August house, partly because of government's reluctance to sit down with opposition parties, who also hold a majority in the house, on the issue of the controversial section 65. The section empowers the speaker to declare vacant any sit of an MP who has moved aw…
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Women turning into men in Malawi
02-05-2008 11:35 door Richard Chirombo2004 times viewedContinue reading
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Some women are turning into men in Malawi - Puna Mwamadi, 36, believes she died on April 6, 1997. The mother of Four, from the area of Traditional (T/A) Authority Karonga in the Lakeshore district of Salima, Southern Malawi, had been eight-months pregnant when her husband, Abner, died in March of the same year- leaving behind her and two other co-wives as theirs was a polygamous family. "I was at home on that night (of April 6, 1997) when labour pains begun. There was only myself at home, alongside Mirriam and Patuma, my deceased husband's other wives, and these people did alot to help me:I remember Patuma run into the bush without being afraid of the appalling darkness that nigh…
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Polygamy's future hangs in balance
02-05-2008 11:31 door Richard Chirombo765 times viewedContinue reading
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Polygamy may one day be forgotten in Malawi. If laws were always to be obeyed. - Puna Mwamadi, 36, believes she died on April 6, 1997. The mother of Four, from the area of Traditional (T/A) Authority Karonga in the Lakeshore district of Salima, Southern Malawi, had been eight-months pregnant when her husband, Abner, died in March of the same year- leaving behind her and two other co-wives as theirs was a polygamous family. "I was at home on that night (of April 6, 1997) when labour pains begun. There was only myself at home, alongside Mirriam and Patuma, my deceased husband's other wives, and these people did alot to help me:I remember Patuma run into the bush without being afrai…
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MCTU to decide on severance pay
02-05-2008 11:26 door Richard Chirombo699 times viewedContinue reading
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The Malawi Congress of Trade Unions (MCTU) says it will come up with its long-awaited for stand on the outstanding issues of pension and severance pay today, following exhaustive consultations with affiliate members that started in Blantyre yesterday. - News Travel MCTU Secretary General, Austin Mkwezalamba said in an interview the mother trade union recently received funding from the International Labour Organisation (ILO)to tackle the issue once and for all, and that labour unions were now ready to come up with a final stand on the issue he said has brought untold misery and suffering among Malawian workers. "We are now ready to come up with a final decision, and what s…
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Friday, August 20, 2010
Menopause:Malawian women suffer in silence
If Anastasia Phiri had her way, she would have thrown the memories of one January night two years ago behind the folder of her mind and stop being the guilty-ridden woman she is today.
It came barely two months after clocking 57- though there was nothing unusual about the day most Malawians would die dreaming to reach as for most, and keeping by the United Nations Development Programme projections on life expectancy, the clock stops at 39 years.
“ That is before my husband died in May last year (2007). I woke up around mid-night, went straight to the kitchen where, for no specific reason, I took hold of the handle of an old hoe. Then the unexpected happened as I took it to the bedroom and smashed my sleeping-husband’s left side with it. A heavy fight ensued,” says Anastasia, who hails from Kanjuli village, in the area of Traditional Authority Kamenyagwaza, Dedza but now lives in Blantyre ’s Ndirande Township .
“ Not that he was injured seriously, but that I never thought that could be done by me because we were a happy family then.”
What kills Anastasia, however, is the fact that though she later apologized to her husband, Flavius, he died almost 17 months later without knowing the cause of the January night incident. How she wished she met her husband and explained, she adds, because her freedom hinges on that simple effort. So does her soul.
Try as she may, she can’t.
But, as it happened in September last year, the mother of seven escorted one of her four daughters to Dedza District Hospital when it transpired that her sibling needed an old hand as guardian as she waited for one more addition to the Malawi population. A nurse was talking taboo in public- Menopause!
There, Anastasia learned that women reached a point, naturally between 42 and 58 years of age, when a woman’s fertility hit the rocks. But that she knew already.
One more point, though: “We also learnt that this condition was not ‘innocent’ after all; it had symptoms. I was shattered, because I remembered that day with my husband. It came clearly that it must have been the cause, because of my age,” Anastasia can never forget to shudder at this point.
According to Dr. Frank Taulo, acting executive director for the Centre for Reproductive Health (CRH) and also Gynaecologist (reproductive health experts, especially on issues of pregnancy and associated problems), says there is a worrying factor in Malawi in that most women don’t know about the effects of menopause and its impact on their lives.
The case of Anastasia is a simple one, he says, as other women have reached the extent of seriously harming or even killing other people because of this seemingly simple life-stage christened menopause.
“Yes, in extreme cases, others have even killed. Menopause is a public health problem though, it seems, we don’t seem to take it seriously here in Malawi . But this problem (lack of seriousness in terms of policy and health strategies) largely emanate from lack of information about it by most members of the public; there is need for extensive public sensitization,” says Taulo.
The Centre for Reproductive Health is a department at College of Medicine- a constituent college of the University of Malawi- the only institution that produces medical doctors in the country. CRH serves as a research and training arm of the Community Health Department at the institution and, among other functions, evaluates reproductive health services based on developed expertise in local cultural and ethical issues; establishes model services that promote quality, equitable access, affordability, appropriateness to the needs of individuals and the community with the main focus on underserved groups.
It also promotes sexual and reproductive health, addresses high-risk cultural practices and advocates for safe motherhood, and post-motherhood, practices, a part of which includes information dissemination on such issues as menopause.
Taulo says that, strictly speaking, menopause is the last menstrual period, though this can only be established when a woman has had no period for at least 12 months because around this time menses tend to be erratic. However, the average age is 51, though it may occur anywhere between 42 to 58 years of age.
Normally, ovaries in a woman’s body release two hormones- oestrogen and progesterone, which are under the control of two other hormones, Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) and Luteinising Hormone (LH) produced in a part of the brain called the pituitary gland. With increased age, ovaries become less responsive to FSH and LH and, consequently, produce less ovarian hormones- and eventually stop releasing any eggs at all.
The resultant low levels of ovarian hormones, especially oestrogen, are thought to be the cause of menopausal symptoms.
Menopause lasts between six to 13 years. Though postmenopausal women cannot get pregnant, there have been reported cases of women getting pregnant during the climacteric and perimenopause period.
Taulo says in most cases menopausal symptoms may range from being non-existent, mild to severe. These include hot flushes, during which the skin around the neck becomes red, warm, sweaty, and last about 30 seconds to five minutes, at times with corresponding chills. The flushes affect 75 per cent of women worldwide and may occur from one to five years; psychological and emotional signs evident through fatigue, irritability, insomnia, nervousness, sudden tears and depression.
Others include night sweat, hair loss or thinning, and vaginal dryness; while neurological problems range from headaches, memory loss or lapse, electric shock sensation under the skin, burning sensation on the tongue. Symptoms may also come in form of an itchy crawling feeling, fingernails becoming softer, changes in body odour, bad taste in mouth, bleeding gums, indigestion, abdomen bloating, and difficulty holding urine (incontinence), especially when laughing or sneezing.
Muscles may also become achy, sore, accompanied by muscular tension, according to Taulo, who adds that women in the rural areas are the ones who largely bear the brunt of all these symptoms because Malawian society is little used to discussing sexual reproductive health issues in public. These women thus chose to keep quiet and suffer in silence, and this is why out-reach information and sensitization activities are urgently needed.
According to www.infomenopause.com, research has shown that libido is not linked to oestrogen levels to the effect that menopause does not necessarily mean a woman will lose interest in sex. 50 per cent of women report no change in sexual interest though reproductive organs may feel dry thus impelling use of creams and “creativity in the bedroom should help”.
To Lennie Adeline Kamwendo, president for the Association of Midwives in Malawi (Amami), the problem with menopause in Malawi begins with the chichewa literal translation of the word “puberty”, which in vernacular goes like “kuthamsinkhu”.
“This is wrong. The real kuthamsinkhu should be menopause because that is when one stops bearing children. Otherwise, puberty is simply the beginning of the opposite. Once we change our attitude towards this problem, people may begin to appreciate the difference between the two sexual reproductive health developments and begin to treat them with the seriousness they deserve,” says Kamwendo.
Otherwise, she explains, menopause is another reproductive health issue that has to be treated as all other health issues, in terms of information dissemination and public sensitization. Even treatment.
Not only to members of the general public should this sensitization tirade span, as says Ularia Chumachiyenda –chairperson for Thyolo District Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) Association. Any efforts, in terms of sensitization and training, targeted at this direct link (TBAs) to the sexually active rural woman, as well as those past this period of activism, would go a long way in ensuring that issues about menopause develop a deep surface in Malawi ’s backwater communities, she says.
Chumachiyenda bemoans the discrimination and poor treatment TBAs suffer at the hands of nurses, blaming it for the high maternal mortality and morbidity rates in the country. According to the Malawi Demographic Health Survey, out of 100,000 women who deliver at any particular time, 984 have to die!
“You will be disappointed to find that, at times, when we take a woman to the hospital for delivery upon realizing that we won’t manage, nurses begin to shout at the pregnant woman for coming to us instead of helping her. And when the worst comes to the worst and she dies, they say it is because of us. We are not wanted at all. Yet, if the nurses rushed to help, perhaps we would have prevented such unnecessary deaths. So, on this issue of menopause, we are saying ‘Let this not happen, we are partners, let us help each other address problems associated with menopause’,” she says, acknowledging that, at the moment, TBAs have zero-knowledge on menopause symptoms.
In the end, menopause shrinks into three sentences of fact: Diagnosis is clinical (based on pattern of periods and presence of symptoms). There are, however, tests for those who may not have menses (after a hysterectomy, for instance). Tests are available to check the level of FSH (which usually rises during menopause) in blood or urine.
Then, the rural woman goes to a clinic.
It came barely two months after clocking 57- though there was nothing unusual about the day most Malawians would die dreaming to reach as for most, and keeping by the United Nations Development Programme projections on life expectancy, the clock stops at 39 years.
“ That is before my husband died in May last year (2007). I woke up around mid-night, went straight to the kitchen where, for no specific reason, I took hold of the handle of an old hoe. Then the unexpected happened as I took it to the bedroom and smashed my sleeping-husband’s left side with it. A heavy fight ensued,” says Anastasia, who hails from Kanjuli village, in the area of Traditional Authority Kamenyagwaza, Dedza but now lives in Blantyre ’s Ndirande Township .
“ Not that he was injured seriously, but that I never thought that could be done by me because we were a happy family then.”
What kills Anastasia, however, is the fact that though she later apologized to her husband, Flavius, he died almost 17 months later without knowing the cause of the January night incident. How she wished she met her husband and explained, she adds, because her freedom hinges on that simple effort. So does her soul.
Try as she may, she can’t.
But, as it happened in September last year, the mother of seven escorted one of her four daughters to Dedza District Hospital when it transpired that her sibling needed an old hand as guardian as she waited for one more addition to the Malawi population. A nurse was talking taboo in public- Menopause!
There, Anastasia learned that women reached a point, naturally between 42 and 58 years of age, when a woman’s fertility hit the rocks. But that she knew already.
One more point, though: “We also learnt that this condition was not ‘innocent’ after all; it had symptoms. I was shattered, because I remembered that day with my husband. It came clearly that it must have been the cause, because of my age,” Anastasia can never forget to shudder at this point.
According to Dr. Frank Taulo, acting executive director for the Centre for Reproductive Health (CRH) and also Gynaecologist (reproductive health experts, especially on issues of pregnancy and associated problems), says there is a worrying factor in Malawi in that most women don’t know about the effects of menopause and its impact on their lives.
The case of Anastasia is a simple one, he says, as other women have reached the extent of seriously harming or even killing other people because of this seemingly simple life-stage christened menopause.
“Yes, in extreme cases, others have even killed. Menopause is a public health problem though, it seems, we don’t seem to take it seriously here in Malawi . But this problem (lack of seriousness in terms of policy and health strategies) largely emanate from lack of information about it by most members of the public; there is need for extensive public sensitization,” says Taulo.
The Centre for Reproductive Health is a department at College of Medicine- a constituent college of the University of Malawi- the only institution that produces medical doctors in the country. CRH serves as a research and training arm of the Community Health Department at the institution and, among other functions, evaluates reproductive health services based on developed expertise in local cultural and ethical issues; establishes model services that promote quality, equitable access, affordability, appropriateness to the needs of individuals and the community with the main focus on underserved groups.
It also promotes sexual and reproductive health, addresses high-risk cultural practices and advocates for safe motherhood, and post-motherhood, practices, a part of which includes information dissemination on such issues as menopause.
Taulo says that, strictly speaking, menopause is the last menstrual period, though this can only be established when a woman has had no period for at least 12 months because around this time menses tend to be erratic. However, the average age is 51, though it may occur anywhere between 42 to 58 years of age.
Normally, ovaries in a woman’s body release two hormones- oestrogen and progesterone, which are under the control of two other hormones, Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) and Luteinising Hormone (LH) produced in a part of the brain called the pituitary gland. With increased age, ovaries become less responsive to FSH and LH and, consequently, produce less ovarian hormones- and eventually stop releasing any eggs at all.
The resultant low levels of ovarian hormones, especially oestrogen, are thought to be the cause of menopausal symptoms.
Menopause lasts between six to 13 years. Though postmenopausal women cannot get pregnant, there have been reported cases of women getting pregnant during the climacteric and perimenopause period.
Taulo says in most cases menopausal symptoms may range from being non-existent, mild to severe. These include hot flushes, during which the skin around the neck becomes red, warm, sweaty, and last about 30 seconds to five minutes, at times with corresponding chills. The flushes affect 75 per cent of women worldwide and may occur from one to five years; psychological and emotional signs evident through fatigue, irritability, insomnia, nervousness, sudden tears and depression.
Others include night sweat, hair loss or thinning, and vaginal dryness; while neurological problems range from headaches, memory loss or lapse, electric shock sensation under the skin, burning sensation on the tongue. Symptoms may also come in form of an itchy crawling feeling, fingernails becoming softer, changes in body odour, bad taste in mouth, bleeding gums, indigestion, abdomen bloating, and difficulty holding urine (incontinence), especially when laughing or sneezing.
Muscles may also become achy, sore, accompanied by muscular tension, according to Taulo, who adds that women in the rural areas are the ones who largely bear the brunt of all these symptoms because Malawian society is little used to discussing sexual reproductive health issues in public. These women thus chose to keep quiet and suffer in silence, and this is why out-reach information and sensitization activities are urgently needed.
According to www.infomenopause.com, research has shown that libido is not linked to oestrogen levels to the effect that menopause does not necessarily mean a woman will lose interest in sex. 50 per cent of women report no change in sexual interest though reproductive organs may feel dry thus impelling use of creams and “creativity in the bedroom should help”.
To Lennie Adeline Kamwendo, president for the Association of Midwives in Malawi (Amami), the problem with menopause in Malawi begins with the chichewa literal translation of the word “puberty”, which in vernacular goes like “kuthamsinkhu”.
“This is wrong. The real kuthamsinkhu should be menopause because that is when one stops bearing children. Otherwise, puberty is simply the beginning of the opposite. Once we change our attitude towards this problem, people may begin to appreciate the difference between the two sexual reproductive health developments and begin to treat them with the seriousness they deserve,” says Kamwendo.
Otherwise, she explains, menopause is another reproductive health issue that has to be treated as all other health issues, in terms of information dissemination and public sensitization. Even treatment.
Not only to members of the general public should this sensitization tirade span, as says Ularia Chumachiyenda –chairperson for Thyolo District Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) Association. Any efforts, in terms of sensitization and training, targeted at this direct link (TBAs) to the sexually active rural woman, as well as those past this period of activism, would go a long way in ensuring that issues about menopause develop a deep surface in Malawi ’s backwater communities, she says.
Chumachiyenda bemoans the discrimination and poor treatment TBAs suffer at the hands of nurses, blaming it for the high maternal mortality and morbidity rates in the country. According to the Malawi Demographic Health Survey, out of 100,000 women who deliver at any particular time, 984 have to die!
“You will be disappointed to find that, at times, when we take a woman to the hospital for delivery upon realizing that we won’t manage, nurses begin to shout at the pregnant woman for coming to us instead of helping her. And when the worst comes to the worst and she dies, they say it is because of us. We are not wanted at all. Yet, if the nurses rushed to help, perhaps we would have prevented such unnecessary deaths. So, on this issue of menopause, we are saying ‘Let this not happen, we are partners, let us help each other address problems associated with menopause’,” she says, acknowledging that, at the moment, TBAs have zero-knowledge on menopause symptoms.
In the end, menopause shrinks into three sentences of fact: Diagnosis is clinical (based on pattern of periods and presence of symptoms). There are, however, tests for those who may not have menses (after a hysterectomy, for instance). Tests are available to check the level of FSH (which usually rises during menopause) in blood or urine.
Then, the rural woman goes to a clinic.
Temporary employment under fire
Casualisation, or temporary employment, has come under a spate of criticism from Malawian labour unions but the Employers Consultative Association of Malawi (Ecam) has defended the practice saying the high cost of doing business in the Southern African country could be behind development.
Malawi Congress of Trade Unions (MCTU) Secretary General, Austin Kalimanjira, said in Blantyre on Wednesday that commercial and industrial workers were the most affected, most of whom, he said, cart home an average of US$4 PER fortnight.
"We have sold our rights in the name of foreign direct investment, and the government is just quite on that. Malawians should now learn to stand up for their rights, otherwise we wii be forced to marrch," said Kalimanjira.
According to the labour unions boss, the worst culprits are multi-national companies, most of which pay the workers wages far much below those accorded to people doing the same kind of job in neighbouring countries, compelling him to speculate that it may be because government policies are too lax on the issue.
But Vincent Singini, Ecam Executive Director, parried aside the accusations saying labour unions should not be blind to the fact that the cost of doing business was high in Malawi as compared to other African countries.
Singini cited a 2004 report on doing business in Malawi that revealed wide-spread discontent among business people and foreign investors when it comes to processing business certificates and permits.
" Investors are profit-ariented and will always share the costs of conducting business with their domestic workers and , unfortunately, it it the ordinary citizen who bears the brunt of upside policies," he said, adding policy makers also had a fair share of the blame as they allowed individuals and foreign companies possing as investors to venture into petty businesses thus crowding out indeginous Malawians.
Thomas Phiri,8, now retired said he has worked under temporary employment deals for over 30 years but had nothing to show off for his sweat because "I was receiving peanuts all along and all the time I kept saying, 'perhaps one day things will change,nothing changed and here I am"'.
He is one of the people who took part in thje construction of Chayamba building, one of the tallest buildings in Blantyre City Centre, but noew lives in a rumshuckle house on the outskirts of the commercial city.
Malawi Congress of Trade Unions (MCTU) Secretary General, Austin Kalimanjira, said in Blantyre on Wednesday that commercial and industrial workers were the most affected, most of whom, he said, cart home an average of US$4 PER fortnight.
"We have sold our rights in the name of foreign direct investment, and the government is just quite on that. Malawians should now learn to stand up for their rights, otherwise we wii be forced to marrch," said Kalimanjira.
According to the labour unions boss, the worst culprits are multi-national companies, most of which pay the workers wages far much below those accorded to people doing the same kind of job in neighbouring countries, compelling him to speculate that it may be because government policies are too lax on the issue.
But Vincent Singini, Ecam Executive Director, parried aside the accusations saying labour unions should not be blind to the fact that the cost of doing business was high in Malawi as compared to other African countries.
Singini cited a 2004 report on doing business in Malawi that revealed wide-spread discontent among business people and foreign investors when it comes to processing business certificates and permits.
" Investors are profit-ariented and will always share the costs of conducting business with their domestic workers and , unfortunately, it it the ordinary citizen who bears the brunt of upside policies," he said, adding policy makers also had a fair share of the blame as they allowed individuals and foreign companies possing as investors to venture into petty businesses thus crowding out indeginous Malawians.
Thomas Phiri,8, now retired said he has worked under temporary employment deals for over 30 years but had nothing to show off for his sweat because "I was receiving peanuts all along and all the time I kept saying, 'perhaps one day things will change,nothing changed and here I am"'.
He is one of the people who took part in thje construction of Chayamba building, one of the tallest buildings in Blantyre City Centre, but noew lives in a rumshuckle house on the outskirts of the commercial city.
Formal couts' backload irk Malawian chiefs
Malawi's traditional court system, which was hitherto used by the one party regime of Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda, got dissolved at the onset of multi-party system of politics to exorcise Malawians of the bad memories the system created following the hanging of many political prisoners convicted and sent to the gullows through the system, but chiefs are now crying for the re-institution of the system.
As a result of the development, most citizens shun the system only seeking redress over petty community issues.
Noel Msiska, Mwanza Primary Justice System Coordinator, revealed that, even with the abolition of the system, 90 per cent of Malawians still has access to it.He attributed the development to the high cost of legal services which has meant that only the previleged few enjoy access to the formal court system.
" Over 60 per cent of Malawians live well below the poverty line and cannot afford to pay legal costs but problems still abound in terms of chiefs capacity in conflict and dispute resolution management as most of them do not keep records.
"The other issue is bias; communities have accused chiefs of being biased towards relations and this has helped shift the attention from the traditional system to formal courts," said Msiska.
According to Msiska, research conducted by the British Department for International Development (DFID) and Malawi Access to Safety ,Security and Justice (MaSSA J) -a community justice programme- revealed glaring discrepancies in record keeping and conflict resolution management among traditional leaders thus affecting patronage.
Mwanza District Commissioner, Frank Kalilombe, under which the initiative falls being part of the Malawi Local Government component, blamed the silmutaneous decline of cases handled at chiefs level ,and the insurgence of serious criminal activities in the district to lack of coordination by players as every one wanted to work in isolation in a bid to enjoy unilateral donor funding.
As a result, he said, violence against women and children has sky-rocketed, piling pressure on the country's security system.
But a High Court and Supreme Court of Appeal Spokesman said there was nothing courts could do to prevent people wishing to seek justice from accessing the formal court system, pointing out that is a constitutional right every citizen was entitled to.
Currently, the country's courts are overwhelmed with cases some of which, like murder, the country cannot dispose off on its own as it depends on donor support notably from DFID.
As a result of the development, most citizens shun the system only seeking redress over petty community issues.
Noel Msiska, Mwanza Primary Justice System Coordinator, revealed that, even with the abolition of the system, 90 per cent of Malawians still has access to it.He attributed the development to the high cost of legal services which has meant that only the previleged few enjoy access to the formal court system.
" Over 60 per cent of Malawians live well below the poverty line and cannot afford to pay legal costs but problems still abound in terms of chiefs capacity in conflict and dispute resolution management as most of them do not keep records.
"The other issue is bias; communities have accused chiefs of being biased towards relations and this has helped shift the attention from the traditional system to formal courts," said Msiska.
According to Msiska, research conducted by the British Department for International Development (DFID) and Malawi Access to Safety ,Security and Justice (MaSSA J) -a community justice programme- revealed glaring discrepancies in record keeping and conflict resolution management among traditional leaders thus affecting patronage.
Mwanza District Commissioner, Frank Kalilombe, under which the initiative falls being part of the Malawi Local Government component, blamed the silmutaneous decline of cases handled at chiefs level ,and the insurgence of serious criminal activities in the district to lack of coordination by players as every one wanted to work in isolation in a bid to enjoy unilateral donor funding.
As a result, he said, violence against women and children has sky-rocketed, piling pressure on the country's security system.
But a High Court and Supreme Court of Appeal Spokesman said there was nothing courts could do to prevent people wishing to seek justice from accessing the formal court system, pointing out that is a constitutional right every citizen was entitled to.
Currently, the country's courts are overwhelmed with cases some of which, like murder, the country cannot dispose off on its own as it depends on donor support notably from DFID.
Witchcraft under the spotlight
There has been an unprecedented outcry from Civil Society Organisations in Malawi for government to enact an Anti-Witchcraft Act to help curb increased incidences of witchcraft and magic practices that have currently plagued the Southern African country.
The development follows increased incidences of suspected witches, some self-confessing, falling over people's houses and others confessing to have taught children the practice.
Malawi has also witnessed an increased number of people being convicted for confessing to the practice, with the latest case last year where a Magistrates' court in the Northern Malawi district of Mzuzu sentenced a man to five years imprisonment with hard labour, though the country's constitution does not recognise witchcraft, and only punishes those who confess for "pretending to practice witchcraft".
Civil Liberties Committee Executive Director, Emmie Chanika faulted government for the practice saying though CSOs fought for the inclusion of regislation tackling the practice, they were given a cold shoulder.
"We have tried our best but government keeps on frustrating us hence an increased number of the practice. People are dying, being victimised, especially children," said Chanika.
Owings Chawanda, Projects Officer for Journaliosts for Human Rights also agreed with the CSOs saying the practice had reached worrying levels.
Even Blantyre Police Public Relations Officer, Elizabeth Divala acknowledged that the police station has received over 20 cases of witchcraft but added that complainers are aften sent back to consult church leades because the issue is more less like a spiritual matter that could as well be tackled spiritually.
Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Henry Phoya said the best way for CSOs to tackle the issue was to go through the Malawi Law Commission on the Review of the Constitution.
Malwi has just finished reviewing her constitution almost a decade since the advent of democracy
The development follows increased incidences of suspected witches, some self-confessing, falling over people's houses and others confessing to have taught children the practice.
Malawi has also witnessed an increased number of people being convicted for confessing to the practice, with the latest case last year where a Magistrates' court in the Northern Malawi district of Mzuzu sentenced a man to five years imprisonment with hard labour, though the country's constitution does not recognise witchcraft, and only punishes those who confess for "pretending to practice witchcraft".
Civil Liberties Committee Executive Director, Emmie Chanika faulted government for the practice saying though CSOs fought for the inclusion of regislation tackling the practice, they were given a cold shoulder.
"We have tried our best but government keeps on frustrating us hence an increased number of the practice. People are dying, being victimised, especially children," said Chanika.
Owings Chawanda, Projects Officer for Journaliosts for Human Rights also agreed with the CSOs saying the practice had reached worrying levels.
Even Blantyre Police Public Relations Officer, Elizabeth Divala acknowledged that the police station has received over 20 cases of witchcraft but added that complainers are aften sent back to consult church leades because the issue is more less like a spiritual matter that could as well be tackled spiritually.
Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Henry Phoya said the best way for CSOs to tackle the issue was to go through the Malawi Law Commission on the Review of the Constitution.
Malwi has just finished reviewing her constitution almost a decade since the advent of democracy
Exposed: Malawi has schools of witches
1000 children in the central Malawi district of Salima, graduate into witchcraft yearly, research shows. The African Network for the Protection and Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect has revealed there is a school in the lakeshore district teaching children how to become masters of the night.
The Country Director of (ANPPCAN), Kenwilliams Mhango, said "It is sad, let us save these children because they stop concentrating in class because of tiredness. Some who refuse to learn about witchcraft are denied food: it is abuse of children's rights."
There have been increased cases of people teaching children witchcraft, but efforts to deal with the issue are hampered by the constitution of Malawi, which does not recognise witchcraft and regards self-confessed individuals as "pretenders".
The Country Director of (ANPPCAN), Kenwilliams Mhango, said "It is sad, let us save these children because they stop concentrating in class because of tiredness. Some who refuse to learn about witchcraft are denied food: it is abuse of children's rights."
There have been increased cases of people teaching children witchcraft, but efforts to deal with the issue are hampered by the constitution of Malawi, which does not recognise witchcraft and regards self-confessed individuals as "pretenders".
Malawi: Disabled used as cure for HIV/AIDS
Disabled persons are being forced into sex as a cure for HIV/AIDS. The Department of Nutrition, HIV and AIDS of the President of Malawi alleges that it was dismayed with the number of complaints being received from the disabled that HIV positive patients are raping them as a cure for their ailment.
Principal Secretary for the Department, Dr. Mary Shawa, said on Thursday as Malawi prepares for the World AIDS Commemoration Day that her office had received complaints from individuals who had been raped or forced into sex with the belief that the disabled are a cure for HIV and AIDS.
"These things are true and, to us, it is a shame because the disabled are not a cure for HIV and AIDS; it is just a misconception," said Shawa.
Malawi is the only country in the world that has successfully integrated HIV/AIDS and nutrition, after noticing that nutrition improved immunity while HIV- the virus that causes AIDS - weakens it. "Integrating the two has been one of our success stories," said Dr. Shawa.
The country plans to host commemoration days at district level come December 1, a process Shawa said has increased costs, instead of reducing them. She was responding to suggestions that government had decentralized the activities to cut costs. The development, she said, came about to improve access to HIV and AIDS and nutrition information.
Principal Secretary for the Department, Dr. Mary Shawa, said on Thursday as Malawi prepares for the World AIDS Commemoration Day that her office had received complaints from individuals who had been raped or forced into sex with the belief that the disabled are a cure for HIV and AIDS.
"These things are true and, to us, it is a shame because the disabled are not a cure for HIV and AIDS; it is just a misconception," said Shawa.
Malawi is the only country in the world that has successfully integrated HIV/AIDS and nutrition, after noticing that nutrition improved immunity while HIV- the virus that causes AIDS - weakens it. "Integrating the two has been one of our success stories," said Dr. Shawa.
The country plans to host commemoration days at district level come December 1, a process Shawa said has increased costs, instead of reducing them. She was responding to suggestions that government had decentralized the activities to cut costs. The development, she said, came about to improve access to HIV and AIDS and nutrition information.
Malawians root for death penalty
Majority of Malawians preferred the death penalty to any other form of punishment, according to a recent public study. The report said the respondents warned against efforts towards scraping corporal punishment from the constitution, fearing that would give rise to serious criminal offenses.
The Legal Affairs Committee of Parliament commissioned the report and its findings were revealed by the former committee Chairperson Atupele Muluzi. “Our committee established that this was the wish of most people in Malawi. This gave rise to suggestions that, perhaps, in cases where it is possible to mete out other forms of punishment to serious offenders, the presiding judges should have power of discretion. Otherwise, the truth remains that most Malawians would love to have that provision of the death penalty,” said Muluzi.
However, civil society organizations (CSOs) have kicked against death penalty. Through the Human Rights Consultative Committee (HRCC), they have argued that the law is ‘barbaric and inhuman’. HRCC Chairperson, Undule Mwakasungula, said: “In fact, research findings have revealed that the death penalty does not deter people from committing serious crimes. So, what is the purpose for maintaining it?”
Mwakasungula further said some people are being wrongly executed; a development he said necessitated the need to get rid of death penalties throughout Africa. “To date, over 126 people have been wrongly hanged. Again, what’s the purpose of retaining this barbaric provision? There are other alternatives around, including life imprisonment,” said Mwakasungula.
However, the Malawi Law Commission, which carried out consultations over the issue, indicated in one of its reports that, in cases where prisoners are committed to life in prison, there was need to include prison reforms. “Otherwise, life imprisonment without the basic necessities in prison would be tantamount to meting a slow death on those committed to life-long prison,” read part of the report.
The Legal Affairs Committee of Parliament commissioned the report and its findings were revealed by the former committee Chairperson Atupele Muluzi. “Our committee established that this was the wish of most people in Malawi. This gave rise to suggestions that, perhaps, in cases where it is possible to mete out other forms of punishment to serious offenders, the presiding judges should have power of discretion. Otherwise, the truth remains that most Malawians would love to have that provision of the death penalty,” said Muluzi.
However, civil society organizations (CSOs) have kicked against death penalty. Through the Human Rights Consultative Committee (HRCC), they have argued that the law is ‘barbaric and inhuman’. HRCC Chairperson, Undule Mwakasungula, said: “In fact, research findings have revealed that the death penalty does not deter people from committing serious crimes. So, what is the purpose for maintaining it?”
Mwakasungula further said some people are being wrongly executed; a development he said necessitated the need to get rid of death penalties throughout Africa. “To date, over 126 people have been wrongly hanged. Again, what’s the purpose of retaining this barbaric provision? There are other alternatives around, including life imprisonment,” said Mwakasungula.
However, the Malawi Law Commission, which carried out consultations over the issue, indicated in one of its reports that, in cases where prisoners are committed to life in prison, there was need to include prison reforms. “Otherwise, life imprisonment without the basic necessities in prison would be tantamount to meting a slow death on those committed to life-long prison,” read part of the report.
Malawi netball on the rise
Malawi has managed to beat prophets of doom who predicted dwindling fortunes for netball, thanks to good player-succession plans.
Just some two years ago, many feared that netball was on its death bed as many of Malawi’s top notch netball players near retirement.
The instrumental Mary Waya, probably the world’s fattest netball player, has a reputation running across the continents. Captain Peace Chawinga-Kalua, too, has had an industrious career spanning over two decades.
The two have been the heart beat of the Malawi National Netball team but now faces prospects of retirement as age catches up with them.
The print media has been awash with debate over whether the old guard should retire now, but national coach Edith Kaliati has turned such a suggestion down- opting to blend old and new blood.
The move seems to be bearing immediate fruits following Malawi’s growing dominance in netball.
Teenager Mwai Kumwenda, for instance, hardly existed in the minds and hopes of Malawian netball fans some four years ago. Now, the Escom Netball Team player has become a house hold name, even leaving a mark on the international netball scene.
She scored the most baskets in the World Under-17 Netball Tournament held last month in Cooks Islands. Within two weeks of that record, Kumwenda accompanied Malawi to South Africa, and took part in the Confederation of Southern Africa Netball Associations (Cosana) tournament.
She blended well with goal shooter Waya to make South Africa look like ordinary amateurs. Malawi retained the Cosana tournament and proceeded to Tanzania where they took part in a Six Nation Invitational Tournament.
The Queens, again, carried the day but did not have time to receive the trophy as they were rushing to the United Kingdom to take part in a competition pitting the world’s top six netball teams.
The Queens braved managed to move up from position six in world netball rankings to 5. The encouraging part was that the team managed to reduce the number of baskets conceded from such giants as England, New Zealand, and Jamaica to within five baskets difference on average. Teams like Samoa were easy folder for the marauding Queens.
The Queens came back home on Tuesday this week, and Kaliati is buoyed by the players’ performance.
“Contrary to fears that we were on the down ward spiral, we are moving from better to best. There is good coordination in the team, and our blending process (mixing the old guard with up-coming players) seems to be working wonders. South Africa can attest to that. In fact, we consider the South African Senior Netball Team as our Team B or concubines,” said Kaliati.
Sports Development Minister, Dr. Luscious Kanyumba, is also thrilled with the new events brewing in netball cycles.
“Netball is one sport that makes us proud. As you know, we have been struggling in soccer- though we now are coming back to where we were in the 1970s. We could beat the likes of Ivory Coast by five-goals-to-one then,” said Kanyumba.
Ivory Coast’s worst defeat (in soccer) came at the hands of Malawi when they went down 5-1.
Kanyumba said government was committed to supporting netball, a sentiment echoed by state president Bingu wa Mutharika.
Mutharika has vowed to increase state funding to all sporting disciplines.
“Let’s spread our net wider and success will come. Netball, especially, has given us the hope that we can do better. It’s not only soccer that matters, netball and other sports disciplines are crucial to success, too,” said Mutharika.
Just some two years ago, many feared that netball was on its death bed as many of Malawi’s top notch netball players near retirement.
The instrumental Mary Waya, probably the world’s fattest netball player, has a reputation running across the continents. Captain Peace Chawinga-Kalua, too, has had an industrious career spanning over two decades.
The two have been the heart beat of the Malawi National Netball team but now faces prospects of retirement as age catches up with them.
The print media has been awash with debate over whether the old guard should retire now, but national coach Edith Kaliati has turned such a suggestion down- opting to blend old and new blood.
The move seems to be bearing immediate fruits following Malawi’s growing dominance in netball.
Teenager Mwai Kumwenda, for instance, hardly existed in the minds and hopes of Malawian netball fans some four years ago. Now, the Escom Netball Team player has become a house hold name, even leaving a mark on the international netball scene.
She scored the most baskets in the World Under-17 Netball Tournament held last month in Cooks Islands. Within two weeks of that record, Kumwenda accompanied Malawi to South Africa, and took part in the Confederation of Southern Africa Netball Associations (Cosana) tournament.
She blended well with goal shooter Waya to make South Africa look like ordinary amateurs. Malawi retained the Cosana tournament and proceeded to Tanzania where they took part in a Six Nation Invitational Tournament.
The Queens, again, carried the day but did not have time to receive the trophy as they were rushing to the United Kingdom to take part in a competition pitting the world’s top six netball teams.
The Queens braved managed to move up from position six in world netball rankings to 5. The encouraging part was that the team managed to reduce the number of baskets conceded from such giants as England, New Zealand, and Jamaica to within five baskets difference on average. Teams like Samoa were easy folder for the marauding Queens.
The Queens came back home on Tuesday this week, and Kaliati is buoyed by the players’ performance.
“Contrary to fears that we were on the down ward spiral, we are moving from better to best. There is good coordination in the team, and our blending process (mixing the old guard with up-coming players) seems to be working wonders. South Africa can attest to that. In fact, we consider the South African Senior Netball Team as our Team B or concubines,” said Kaliati.
Sports Development Minister, Dr. Luscious Kanyumba, is also thrilled with the new events brewing in netball cycles.
“Netball is one sport that makes us proud. As you know, we have been struggling in soccer- though we now are coming back to where we were in the 1970s. We could beat the likes of Ivory Coast by five-goals-to-one then,” said Kanyumba.
Ivory Coast’s worst defeat (in soccer) came at the hands of Malawi when they went down 5-1.
Kanyumba said government was committed to supporting netball, a sentiment echoed by state president Bingu wa Mutharika.
Mutharika has vowed to increase state funding to all sporting disciplines.
“Let’s spread our net wider and success will come. Netball, especially, has given us the hope that we can do better. It’s not only soccer that matters, netball and other sports disciplines are crucial to success, too,” said Mutharika.
Religions soften rules on condom use
Religious leaders have softened up their decision against general condom use in Malawi. Government officials see it as positive news in the fight against HIV/AID. Media reports say condom use in the southern African country remains below the levels needed to halt the spread of the disease.
Malawi is one of the Southern African Development Community member states with a high HIV prevalence rate, though government efforts have helped stabilize the situation to 12 per cent national prevalence rate.
National AIDS Commission Executive Director, Biziwick Mwale, said the trend was worrisome because HIV/AIDS service organizations were doing a commendable job in sensitising communities. "The most worrying factor is that condom use seems to be low in long term partnerships and marriages. Condom use is just over the 50 per cent mark, but has never reached 55 per cent,” said Mwale.
The sub-Saharan country distributes 20 million male condoms against 200, 000 female condoms. Only half of these are sold and used, AfricaNews reporter said. Female Condom activists hope that increased awareness about FCs could help reverse the situation.
Malawi is one of the Southern African Development Community member states with a high HIV prevalence rate, though government efforts have helped stabilize the situation to 12 per cent national prevalence rate.
National AIDS Commission Executive Director, Biziwick Mwale, said the trend was worrisome because HIV/AIDS service organizations were doing a commendable job in sensitising communities. "The most worrying factor is that condom use seems to be low in long term partnerships and marriages. Condom use is just over the 50 per cent mark, but has never reached 55 per cent,” said Mwale.
The sub-Saharan country distributes 20 million male condoms against 200, 000 female condoms. Only half of these are sold and used, AfricaNews reporter said. Female Condom activists hope that increased awareness about FCs could help reverse the situation.
Lack of resources sends Malawians 12,000 blind
Malawi is facing a race against time to cure 12, 000 patients made blind from preventable illnesses.
Ministry of Health officials acknowledge the country was grappling with an artificial blindness problem, but say efforts were being made to reverse the situation.
Joseph Msosa, Chief Eye Specialist in the Ministry of Health, said the common form of blindness was that coming as a result of cataract, a health condition that, if untreated, leads into total blindness. It can, however, be reversed through eye surgery.
“We currently have 20, 000 people who are blind as a result of this condition, of which we have only been able to operate on 8, 000. We don’t have the necessary financial resources to operate on the remaining 12, 000,” said Msosa.
This means countless more days of no sight for people who deserve nothing more but sight.
Other unconfirmed reports indicate that there may be more than 100, 000 people with cataract, but too much reliance of Health Surveillance Assistants means many more people suffering from the condition remain unaware that they can be cured.
Ministry of Health officials acknowledge the country was grappling with an artificial blindness problem, but say efforts were being made to reverse the situation.
Joseph Msosa, Chief Eye Specialist in the Ministry of Health, said the common form of blindness was that coming as a result of cataract, a health condition that, if untreated, leads into total blindness. It can, however, be reversed through eye surgery.
“We currently have 20, 000 people who are blind as a result of this condition, of which we have only been able to operate on 8, 000. We don’t have the necessary financial resources to operate on the remaining 12, 000,” said Msosa.
This means countless more days of no sight for people who deserve nothing more but sight.
Other unconfirmed reports indicate that there may be more than 100, 000 people with cataract, but too much reliance of Health Surveillance Assistants means many more people suffering from the condition remain unaware that they can be cured.
Conservatives make proposals to tackle homophobic bullying
Shadow chancellor and head of the Conservative Party's general election campaign has today expanded on the party's policies to tackle homophobic bullying first outlined in an article by party leader David Cameron on PinkNews.co.uk yesterday. The plans come despite the Conservatives forcing the Government to drop plans to reform sexual education teaching in schools, that experts argued could lead to a reduction in homophobic bullying.
George Osborne today said: "The Conservative Party will give headteachers the final say over the exclusion of homophobic bullies and give teachers the power to stop violent homophobic incidents.
"We would also change government guidance on behaviour and exclusions to make it clear that bullying aggravated by prejudice – including homophobic bullying should result in tougher punishments. And in order to improve the level of information we have, we would include a new category in exclusions data specifically for 'homophobic abuse.'"
Yesterday Mr Cameron wrote on PinkNews.co.uk: "Homophobic bullying in schools is a massive issue and we've absolutely got to root it out. I think the first thing teachers need to deal with it is more power to tackle homophobic bullying. Under Labour, homophobic bullies excluded from schools can be returned to the classroom by a bureaucratic appeals panel, and teachers are often unable to break up violent homophobic bullying because of “no touch” policies that prevent teachers from intervening. I know Michael Gove has plans to deal with homophobic bullying with new powers for heads and improving teacher training in a way that gives teachers the tools they need to deal with all sorts of prejudice – from anti-semitism to homophobia."
Mr Osborne says the Conservatives will free headteachers to be able to exclude homophobic bullies. At present the party says pupils expelled for homophobia can be returned to schools under appeal panels. The party say they will scrap appeal panels, although teachers point out that they have been promised this in the past.
The party say they will give teachers the power to stop violent homophobic attacks. They argue that half of schools have forms of a 'no touch' policy which can prevent teachers from intervening in incidents. Mr Osborne said teachers would be given absolute clarity over use of reasonable force to prevent violence.
The Tories say they would issue guidance to schools on behaviour and exclusions for non-violent bullying based on homophobia as well as gender, disability and race. The guidance will emphasise that prejudiced based bullying is serious than other forms of disruptive behaviour.
The party will also force schools to record incidents of homophobic abuse in the way they currently do for sexual misconduct and racism. Teachers warn that this may result in form filling and box ticking.
Ben Smith, a teacher in an inner-London, Catholic school told PinkNews.co.uk: "There is nothing that new about the Conservative's policies. They've spoken before about abolishing appeals panels, this is a reactive policy. As a gay teacher, I can see that what is needed is to teach about homosexuality across the curriculum, in the same way that race and gender is."
Jonathan Bartley of the progressive religious think tank Ekklesia wrote that the policies "are geared around further exclusion and based on 'tougher punishments. There is nothing restorative in the proposals. Indeed, their stated aim in promoting exclusion is to avoid contact between victim and offender. Contact can actually be helpful if managed properly and both parties consent to it.
"Nor do they do anything to tackle the indications that there is more bullying in faith schools than in others, which we highlighted in a letter to the Times recently. There is nothing in the proposals to tackle, for example, the exemptions that faith schools have in sex and relationships education, which some feel lie close to the root of the problem."
Last week, the Conservative Party forced the Government into a climbdown over plans to make sex education compulsory for all pupils over 15. Lisa Power of HIV and sexual health charity Terrence Higgins Trust called the climbdown "disgraceful" and claimed it could lead to more homophobic bullying.
"We will see the impact on young people who haven't had decent sex and relationships education. The girl who gets pregnant because the only education she got was in the playground, the people who use the word 'gay' as an insult," she said.
"This isn't just about sex – it's about relationships, it's about bullying, it's about a whole raft of things."
The announcement today follows a meeting with gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell who held 'David Cameron coming out party' outside the Conservative Party's London headquarters.
George Osborne today said: "The Conservative Party will give headteachers the final say over the exclusion of homophobic bullies and give teachers the power to stop violent homophobic incidents.
"We would also change government guidance on behaviour and exclusions to make it clear that bullying aggravated by prejudice – including homophobic bullying should result in tougher punishments. And in order to improve the level of information we have, we would include a new category in exclusions data specifically for 'homophobic abuse.'"
Yesterday Mr Cameron wrote on PinkNews.co.uk: "Homophobic bullying in schools is a massive issue and we've absolutely got to root it out. I think the first thing teachers need to deal with it is more power to tackle homophobic bullying. Under Labour, homophobic bullies excluded from schools can be returned to the classroom by a bureaucratic appeals panel, and teachers are often unable to break up violent homophobic bullying because of “no touch” policies that prevent teachers from intervening. I know Michael Gove has plans to deal with homophobic bullying with new powers for heads and improving teacher training in a way that gives teachers the tools they need to deal with all sorts of prejudice – from anti-semitism to homophobia."
Mr Osborne says the Conservatives will free headteachers to be able to exclude homophobic bullies. At present the party says pupils expelled for homophobia can be returned to schools under appeal panels. The party say they will scrap appeal panels, although teachers point out that they have been promised this in the past.
The party say they will give teachers the power to stop violent homophobic attacks. They argue that half of schools have forms of a 'no touch' policy which can prevent teachers from intervening in incidents. Mr Osborne said teachers would be given absolute clarity over use of reasonable force to prevent violence.
The Tories say they would issue guidance to schools on behaviour and exclusions for non-violent bullying based on homophobia as well as gender, disability and race. The guidance will emphasise that prejudiced based bullying is serious than other forms of disruptive behaviour.
The party will also force schools to record incidents of homophobic abuse in the way they currently do for sexual misconduct and racism. Teachers warn that this may result in form filling and box ticking.
Ben Smith, a teacher in an inner-London, Catholic school told PinkNews.co.uk: "There is nothing that new about the Conservative's policies. They've spoken before about abolishing appeals panels, this is a reactive policy. As a gay teacher, I can see that what is needed is to teach about homosexuality across the curriculum, in the same way that race and gender is."
Jonathan Bartley of the progressive religious think tank Ekklesia wrote that the policies "are geared around further exclusion and based on 'tougher punishments. There is nothing restorative in the proposals. Indeed, their stated aim in promoting exclusion is to avoid contact between victim and offender. Contact can actually be helpful if managed properly and both parties consent to it.
"Nor do they do anything to tackle the indications that there is more bullying in faith schools than in others, which we highlighted in a letter to the Times recently. There is nothing in the proposals to tackle, for example, the exemptions that faith schools have in sex and relationships education, which some feel lie close to the root of the problem."
Last week, the Conservative Party forced the Government into a climbdown over plans to make sex education compulsory for all pupils over 15. Lisa Power of HIV and sexual health charity Terrence Higgins Trust called the climbdown "disgraceful" and claimed it could lead to more homophobic bullying.
"We will see the impact on young people who haven't had decent sex and relationships education. The girl who gets pregnant because the only education she got was in the playground, the people who use the word 'gay' as an insult," she said.
"This isn't just about sex – it's about relationships, it's about bullying, it's about a whole raft of things."
The announcement today follows a meeting with gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell who held 'David Cameron coming out party' outside the Conservative Party's London headquarters.
Trans pilot 'no big deal' for RAF (Pilot wants to become woman)
A pilot at Prince William's RAF base is transitioning to become a woman.
Flight Lieutenant Ayla Holdom, 29, who was born male, told friends this week that she expects to complete her transition within a year.
She is based at RAF Valley in Anglesey, North Wales, where the second-in-line to the throne is training.
The Sun reports that Ms Holdom will remain with her wife Wren and continue in her job, becoming one of three women in 22 Squadron C Flight.
A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: "This is no big deal for the RAF, or the services in general for that matter, whether you are talking about transgender or homosexuality.
"All we have to deal with is can that person do the job, can Ian [her former name] fly as a co-pilot in the search and rescue?"
According to the newspaper, the pilot sent an email to friends and family this week explaining the change.
Ms Holdom also updated her Facebook to say she would shortly delete the profile to "move on" and encouraged friends to ask if they did not understand.
A source said: "It wasn't a total shock for those of us who have known Ian for a while, as he was not happy being a man.
"This sort of thing isn't that unusual in this day and age, even in the military."
"He said he wasn't going to start wearing a bonnet and screaming 'I'm a laydee!'
"He made a few other jokes in the message, saying that there would be some big and small physical changes.
"He said he accepted that a lot of people would find his decision 'weird', he recognised there were funny aspects to it, and he said he'd be disappointed if people didn't take the mickey a bit."
Flight Lieutenant Ayla Holdom, 29, who was born male, told friends this week that she expects to complete her transition within a year.
She is based at RAF Valley in Anglesey, North Wales, where the second-in-line to the throne is training.
The Sun reports that Ms Holdom will remain with her wife Wren and continue in her job, becoming one of three women in 22 Squadron C Flight.
A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: "This is no big deal for the RAF, or the services in general for that matter, whether you are talking about transgender or homosexuality.
"All we have to deal with is can that person do the job, can Ian [her former name] fly as a co-pilot in the search and rescue?"
According to the newspaper, the pilot sent an email to friends and family this week explaining the change.
Ms Holdom also updated her Facebook to say she would shortly delete the profile to "move on" and encouraged friends to ask if they did not understand.
A source said: "It wasn't a total shock for those of us who have known Ian for a while, as he was not happy being a man.
"This sort of thing isn't that unusual in this day and age, even in the military."
"He said he wasn't going to start wearing a bonnet and screaming 'I'm a laydee!'
"He made a few other jokes in the message, saying that there would be some big and small physical changes.
"He said he accepted that a lot of people would find his decision 'weird', he recognised there were funny aspects to it, and he said he'd be disappointed if people didn't take the mickey a bit."
Former drag queen accuses boss of homophobia
A gay man who once worked as a drag queen is suing his boss for unfair dismissal and sexual orientation discrimination.
Dean Awford, 42, worked as a sales manager for furniture store Grays At Northwick for two years, earning an annual salary of £16,000.
He alleges that his boss David Gray continually directed homophobic insults at him and humiliated him in front of customers.
Awford told an employment tribunal he had made no secret of his sexual orientation but Gray would call him a "poof and "faggot", along with referring to him as "she".
He said: "During my employment I was subjected to continual harassment due to my sexual preference.. . Mr Gray was an extremely volatile and abusive employer.
"[On one] occasion I was in a white suit and he said 'look at you, you faggot.' Faggot is a word I don't like and I would complain verbally about what he was saying to me."
Gray, 56, denied Awford's claims, saying both men made banter about his sexual orientation.
Awford, who used to appear in clubs in Birmingham and Manchester as Scarlett Eclipse, said people expected to see a drag queen make remarks about homosexuality but he did not expect it in the workplace.
The case continues.
Dean Awford, 42, worked as a sales manager for furniture store Grays At Northwick for two years, earning an annual salary of £16,000.
He alleges that his boss David Gray continually directed homophobic insults at him and humiliated him in front of customers.
Awford told an employment tribunal he had made no secret of his sexual orientation but Gray would call him a "poof and "faggot", along with referring to him as "she".
He said: "During my employment I was subjected to continual harassment due to my sexual preference.. . Mr Gray was an extremely volatile and abusive employer.
"[On one] occasion I was in a white suit and he said 'look at you, you faggot.' Faggot is a word I don't like and I would complain verbally about what he was saying to me."
Gray, 56, denied Awford's claims, saying both men made banter about his sexual orientation.
Awford, who used to appear in clubs in Birmingham and Manchester as Scarlett Eclipse, said people expected to see a drag queen make remarks about homosexuality but he did not expect it in the workplace.
The case continues.
Former drag queen accuses boss of homophobia
A gay man who once worked as a drag queen is suing his boss for unfair dismissal and sexual orientation discrimination.
Dean Awford, 42, worked as a sales manager for furniture store Grays At Northwick for two years, earning an annual salary of £16,000.
He alleges that his boss David Gray continually directed homophobic insults at him and humiliated him in front of customers.
Awford told an employment tribunal he had made no secret of his sexual orientation but Gray would call him a "poof and "faggot", along with referring to him as "she".
He said: "During my employment I was subjected to continual harassment due to my sexual preference.. . Mr Gray was an extremely volatile and abusive employer.
"[On one] occasion I was in a white suit and he said 'look at you, you faggot.' Faggot is a word I don't like and I would complain verbally about what he was saying to me."
Gray, 56, denied Awford's claims, saying both men made banter about his sexual orientation.
Awford, who used to appear in clubs in Birmingham and Manchester as Scarlett Eclipse, said people expected to see a drag queen make remarks about homosexuality but he did not expect it in the workplace.
Dean Awford, 42, worked as a sales manager for furniture store Grays At Northwick for two years, earning an annual salary of £16,000.
He alleges that his boss David Gray continually directed homophobic insults at him and humiliated him in front of customers.
Awford told an employment tribunal he had made no secret of his sexual orientation but Gray would call him a "poof and "faggot", along with referring to him as "she".
He said: "During my employment I was subjected to continual harassment due to my sexual preference.. . Mr Gray was an extremely volatile and abusive employer.
"[On one] occasion I was in a white suit and he said 'look at you, you faggot.' Faggot is a word I don't like and I would complain verbally about what he was saying to me."
Gray, 56, denied Awford's claims, saying both men made banter about his sexual orientation.
Awford, who used to appear in clubs in Birmingham and Manchester as Scarlett Eclipse, said people expected to see a drag queen make remarks about homosexuality but he did not expect it in the workplace.
Catholic adoption agency barred from refusing gay couples
A Catholic adoption agency has been barred by the Charity Commission from restricting its service to heterosexual couples.
Catholic Care, in the diocese of Leeds, wanted to amend its charitable objectives to avoid equality legislation which requires it not to discriminate.
The decision came after a High Court order in March which required the Charity Commission to reconsider its decision not to let the agency change its constitution.
Under the 2005 Sexual Orientation Regulations, all businesses and services must not discriminate against gay people.
Catholic Care wanted to take advantage of a clause which allows charities to discriminate if their aims are to serve people of a particular sexual orientation. In practice, one example is gay charities being allowed to refuse employment to straight people.
It argued that if it catered to gay couples, it would lose its funding from the Catholic Church and be forced to close. It also claimed that gay couples were not harmed by its position as they can approach other adoption agencies.
However, the Charity Commission ruled that the charity had not shown enough evidence to be permitted to amend its objectives.
In its decision, the commission said that it was in children's benefit to have as wide a pool of potential adopters as possible and cited a High Court judgment which said that respect for religious beliefs was not a justification to discriminate on the grounds of sexual orientation.
Catholic Care argued that it acts as a service for children who are particularly damage or hard to place with adoptive parents. In the ruling, the commission said that other local channels would fill the gap and that the charity currently only provides for an average of ten children per year.
In past submissions, Catholic Care has said that it will close rather than cater for gay couples and lose the financial support it gets from the Catholic Church.
The majority of Catholic adoption agencies in the UK have closed or cut their ties with the church since the two-year window for them to comply with the law passed.
Catholic Care could not be reached for comment yesterday.
Andrew Hind, the chief executive of the Charity Commission, said: “In certain circumstances, it is not against the law for charities to discriminate on the grounds of sexual orientation.
"However, because the prohibition on such discrimination is a fundamental principle of human rights law, such discrimination can only be permitted in the most compelling circumstances.
"We have concluded that in this case the reasons Catholic Care have set out do not justify their wish to discriminate.”
A spokesman from gay charity Stonewall said: "We welcome the Charity Commission’s second refusal to allow Catholic Care special dispensation to discriminate against gay couples.
"Stonewall’s recent research on children with gay parents shows how their families are as loving and committed as any. A wider pool of potential loving parents is in the best interests of the children waiting for adoption."
Catholic Care, in the diocese of Leeds, wanted to amend its charitable objectives to avoid equality legislation which requires it not to discriminate.
The decision came after a High Court order in March which required the Charity Commission to reconsider its decision not to let the agency change its constitution.
Under the 2005 Sexual Orientation Regulations, all businesses and services must not discriminate against gay people.
Catholic Care wanted to take advantage of a clause which allows charities to discriminate if their aims are to serve people of a particular sexual orientation. In practice, one example is gay charities being allowed to refuse employment to straight people.
It argued that if it catered to gay couples, it would lose its funding from the Catholic Church and be forced to close. It also claimed that gay couples were not harmed by its position as they can approach other adoption agencies.
However, the Charity Commission ruled that the charity had not shown enough evidence to be permitted to amend its objectives.
In its decision, the commission said that it was in children's benefit to have as wide a pool of potential adopters as possible and cited a High Court judgment which said that respect for religious beliefs was not a justification to discriminate on the grounds of sexual orientation.
Catholic Care argued that it acts as a service for children who are particularly damage or hard to place with adoptive parents. In the ruling, the commission said that other local channels would fill the gap and that the charity currently only provides for an average of ten children per year.
In past submissions, Catholic Care has said that it will close rather than cater for gay couples and lose the financial support it gets from the Catholic Church.
The majority of Catholic adoption agencies in the UK have closed or cut their ties with the church since the two-year window for them to comply with the law passed.
Catholic Care could not be reached for comment yesterday.
Andrew Hind, the chief executive of the Charity Commission, said: “In certain circumstances, it is not against the law for charities to discriminate on the grounds of sexual orientation.
"However, because the prohibition on such discrimination is a fundamental principle of human rights law, such discrimination can only be permitted in the most compelling circumstances.
"We have concluded that in this case the reasons Catholic Care have set out do not justify their wish to discriminate.”
A spokesman from gay charity Stonewall said: "We welcome the Charity Commission’s second refusal to allow Catholic Care special dispensation to discriminate against gay couples.
"Stonewall’s recent research on children with gay parents shows how their families are as loving and committed as any. A wider pool of potential loving parents is in the best interests of the children waiting for adoption."
Germany's justice minister considering giving gay couples equal income tax rights
Germany's justice minister Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger said today she is looking at how gay couples can be given equality in the income tax system.
Earlier this week, the country's highest court ruled that gay couples must be given equal tax inheritance rights and said the government must implement this by 2011.
The court is also expected make a ruling on income tax but Ms Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger said that the government should not wait until the decision to to change the law.
Heterosexual married couples in Germany can access income tax breaks. The country does not allow gay couples to marry and registered partnerships, which were legalised in 2001, offer only some of the benefits of marriage.
According to AP, Ms Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger told the Muenchner Merkur newspaper that she also wanted gay couples to be allowed to adopt children but said this was unlikely to happen until after 2013, when the next general election will be held.
Earlier this week, the country's highest court ruled that gay couples must be given equal tax inheritance rights and said the government must implement this by 2011.
The court is also expected make a ruling on income tax but Ms Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger said that the government should not wait until the decision to to change the law.
Heterosexual married couples in Germany can access income tax breaks. The country does not allow gay couples to marry and registered partnerships, which were legalised in 2001, offer only some of the benefits of marriage.
According to AP, Ms Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger told the Muenchner Merkur newspaper that she also wanted gay couples to be allowed to adopt children but said this was unlikely to happen until after 2013, when the next general election will be held.
BBC apologises for weatherman's rude gesture
The BBC has apologised after viewers saw a weatherman sticking his middle finger up at his co-presenters.
Tomasz Schafernaker, who has posed for gay magazine Attitude, did not realise he was on camera when he made the rude gesture to News 24 anchors Simon McCoy and Fiona Armstrong.
He tried, and failed, to disguise the gaffe by appearing to scratch his chin.
The mishap took place yesterday as McCoy introduced the weather segment.
McCoy said: "Now we'll have the weather forecast in just a minute. Of course it will be 100 per cent accurate and provide you with all the details you could possibly want."
Schafernaker, 31, responded to the joke by sticking his middle finger up, then looked horrified as he realised he had been caught on camera.
As the camera cut back to the news anchors, a gasp was heard and McCoy said: "There's always one mistake."
A BBC spokesman apologised for the incident, saying: "The News Channel presenter in the studio acknowledged a mistake had been made, and we apologise for any offence caused.
"Tomasz was not aware that he was on air, and whilst the gesture was only shown for a second, it was not acceptable."
Schafernaker had to apologise in 2007 after referring to the Outer Hebrides in the Western Isles of Scotland as "nowheresville", while a slip of the tongue last year saw him forecast a "muddy s**te" for Glastonbury festival.
In January, he made headlines by posing for Attitude magazine's supplement Active in skimpy shorts.
Tomasz Schafernaker, who has posed for gay magazine Attitude, did not realise he was on camera when he made the rude gesture to News 24 anchors Simon McCoy and Fiona Armstrong.
He tried, and failed, to disguise the gaffe by appearing to scratch his chin.
The mishap took place yesterday as McCoy introduced the weather segment.
McCoy said: "Now we'll have the weather forecast in just a minute. Of course it will be 100 per cent accurate and provide you with all the details you could possibly want."
Schafernaker, 31, responded to the joke by sticking his middle finger up, then looked horrified as he realised he had been caught on camera.
As the camera cut back to the news anchors, a gasp was heard and McCoy said: "There's always one mistake."
A BBC spokesman apologised for the incident, saying: "The News Channel presenter in the studio acknowledged a mistake had been made, and we apologise for any offence caused.
"Tomasz was not aware that he was on air, and whilst the gesture was only shown for a second, it was not acceptable."
Schafernaker had to apologise in 2007 after referring to the Outer Hebrides in the Western Isles of Scotland as "nowheresville", while a slip of the tongue last year saw him forecast a "muddy s**te" for Glastonbury festival.
In January, he made headlines by posing for Attitude magazine's supplement Active in skimpy shorts.
Cameroon: "Decriminalize same-sex act"
Cameroon should decriminalize consensual sexual acts between adults of the same sex, Human Rights Watch and Alternatives-Cameroun said. The groups urged the government of Cameroon to put into effect immediately the recommendations of the UN Human Rights Committee to bring Cameroon's law into conformity with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
Since 2005, Alternatives-Cameroun, Human Rights Watch, and other Cameroonian and international organizations have documented abuses and violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in Cameroon. Suspected homosexual men have been arrested and beaten on their bodies, heads, and even the soles of their feet while in custody. Women suffer violence in their families if they are suspected of being lesbians. In some cases, they have been forced to leave their homes or their children have been taken away from them.
"Cameroon should guarantee lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people the same rights as every other citizen," said Boris Dittrich, advocacy director of the LGBT rights program at Human Rights Watch. "There is no reason why anyone in Cameroon should live in fear of prosecution and abuse because of their sexual orientation or gender identity."
Alternatives-Cameroun and Human Rights Watch delivered an oral statement to the UN Human Rights Committee on July 12, summarizing the human rights abuses people in Cameroon have experienced on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity. Cameroon does not include services for men who have sex with men and women who have sex with women in their HIV prevention programs, the groups told the committee. Alternatives-Cameroun has also found in its day-to-day work that this policy effectively bars access for many of them to health services, treatment, and care.
The UN Human Rights Committee issued a recommendation to Cameroon's government to end social prejudice and stigmatization against LGBT people and to guarantee public health programs that have "universal reach and ensure universal access to HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, care and support." The government should also carry out this recommendation, Human Rights Watch and Alternatives-Cameroun said.
"By implementing this recommendation, Cameroon would do the bare minimum to realize the fundamental human rights enshrined in its national constitution," said Steave Nemande, director of Alternatives-Cameroun. "To save lives, the government should immediately start implementing effective education programs to combat HIV/AIDS."
Cameroon is a party to the ICCPR. Articles 2 and 26 of the ICCPR, respectively, affirm the right to equal treatment and the right to equal protection before the law without discrimination. The UN Human Rights Committee, charged with authoritatively interpreting the ICCPR and monitoring states' compliance with its provisions, affirmed in its decision in Toonen v. Australia (1994) that sexual orientation is included in the protections against discrimination under articles 2 and 26.
Since 2005, Alternatives-Cameroun, Human Rights Watch, and other Cameroonian and international organizations have documented abuses and violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in Cameroon. Suspected homosexual men have been arrested and beaten on their bodies, heads, and even the soles of their feet while in custody. Women suffer violence in their families if they are suspected of being lesbians. In some cases, they have been forced to leave their homes or their children have been taken away from them.
"Cameroon should guarantee lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people the same rights as every other citizen," said Boris Dittrich, advocacy director of the LGBT rights program at Human Rights Watch. "There is no reason why anyone in Cameroon should live in fear of prosecution and abuse because of their sexual orientation or gender identity."
Alternatives-Cameroun and Human Rights Watch delivered an oral statement to the UN Human Rights Committee on July 12, summarizing the human rights abuses people in Cameroon have experienced on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity. Cameroon does not include services for men who have sex with men and women who have sex with women in their HIV prevention programs, the groups told the committee. Alternatives-Cameroun has also found in its day-to-day work that this policy effectively bars access for many of them to health services, treatment, and care.
The UN Human Rights Committee issued a recommendation to Cameroon's government to end social prejudice and stigmatization against LGBT people and to guarantee public health programs that have "universal reach and ensure universal access to HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, care and support." The government should also carry out this recommendation, Human Rights Watch and Alternatives-Cameroun said.
"By implementing this recommendation, Cameroon would do the bare minimum to realize the fundamental human rights enshrined in its national constitution," said Steave Nemande, director of Alternatives-Cameroun. "To save lives, the government should immediately start implementing effective education programs to combat HIV/AIDS."
Cameroon is a party to the ICCPR. Articles 2 and 26 of the ICCPR, respectively, affirm the right to equal treatment and the right to equal protection before the law without discrimination. The UN Human Rights Committee, charged with authoritatively interpreting the ICCPR and monitoring states' compliance with its provisions, affirmed in its decision in Toonen v. Australia (1994) that sexual orientation is included in the protections against discrimination under articles 2 and 26.
Civilizational War
THE CIVILIZATION OF ISLAM
One of the clearest lessons about Islam is found in the Sharia. The largest part of the Sharia is devoted to regulating the life of Muslims down to the smallest detail. There is no aspect of life that is not regulated-sex, food, art, business, education, prayer, manners, speech and how to think and not to think. There is no aspect of life that is outside the power of Sharia-religion, politics, ethics, culture are included. The Sharia is the operating manual for a complete civilization. Islam is complete within itself and needs nothing from the outside.
The Sharia has one other quality that is as important as the totality of its scope. The civilization of Sharia is not just different, it contradicts our civilization.
Inside Islam justice, religion, politics, law, human rights and compassion do not mean what they mean to us. All of these ideas are based on the principles of submission and duality as found in the Sharia.
OUR CIVILIZATION
Our civilization is based on the principles of the Golden Rule and critical thought. We do not always fulfill the principles, but they are the ideals we strive for, and can be used for debate and self-criticism to correct and improve our culture.
Our principles lead to the ideals of critical thought, self-criticism, equality of all peoples before the law, freedom of thought and ideas, freedom of religion, public debate, separation of church and state, liberal democracy and a free-ranging humor.
These are beautiful ideals and they are worth keeping and striving towards. Do we meet them? No, but what is more important they contradict the Sharia. It is one thing to fail to achieve these ideals, but it is entirely another to see them disappear as a public option under the impact of Sharia. Sharia law limits critical thought, self-criticism, equality of all peoples before the law, freedom of thought and ideas, freedom of religion, public debate, separation of church and state, liberal democracy and humor.
CIVILIZATIONAL WAR
Part of the genius of Islam is the totality of Sharia, which includes a concept of war that attacks the host civilization at every aspect of its being. In modern times the military power of Islam is weak, but this is more than compensated by its ability to attack along legal and cultural lines under the guise of being a religion.
As Sharia is applied to a society, the host civilization is annihilated in each and every manifestation of culture. This annihilation is demonstrated by a peculiar fact about the history of Islamic countries-part of it is missing. Afghanistan used to be a Buddhist civilization. We see its remnants in ruins and fragments such as the Bamiyan Buddhas that were destroyed by the Taliban. Who knows the Buddhist history of Afghanistan? Practically speaking, it does not exist. Who knows the history of how Turkey, North Africa, Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq went from being Christian to Islamic?
We don't know the history because of the total annihilation of the past cultures by Sharia law. As time goes on customs, law, art, literature, and ethics of the host culture are replaced by Islamic values under the application of Sharia. The result is that there is nothing left of the history before the implementation of Sharia law.
There is a second aspect of this annihilation-the dhimmitude of the Kafirs (non-Muslims) remaining inside Islamic society. If you talk to Christians who are left in Islamic countries, they are an abused people who are unable to fight back after centuries of suffering and degradation under Sharia law. They are not supported by other Kafirs and are left to suffer under the oppression that will eliminate their few numbers. Whatever memory they have of the past is ignored by those who should be defending them.
If we are to go down the Sharia road, history teaches that it has always led to an Islamic mono-culture. In the end, there is no such thing as a little Sharia.
One of the clearest lessons about Islam is found in the Sharia. The largest part of the Sharia is devoted to regulating the life of Muslims down to the smallest detail. There is no aspect of life that is not regulated-sex, food, art, business, education, prayer, manners, speech and how to think and not to think. There is no aspect of life that is outside the power of Sharia-religion, politics, ethics, culture are included. The Sharia is the operating manual for a complete civilization. Islam is complete within itself and needs nothing from the outside.
The Sharia has one other quality that is as important as the totality of its scope. The civilization of Sharia is not just different, it contradicts our civilization.
Inside Islam justice, religion, politics, law, human rights and compassion do not mean what they mean to us. All of these ideas are based on the principles of submission and duality as found in the Sharia.
OUR CIVILIZATION
Our civilization is based on the principles of the Golden Rule and critical thought. We do not always fulfill the principles, but they are the ideals we strive for, and can be used for debate and self-criticism to correct and improve our culture.
Our principles lead to the ideals of critical thought, self-criticism, equality of all peoples before the law, freedom of thought and ideas, freedom of religion, public debate, separation of church and state, liberal democracy and a free-ranging humor.
These are beautiful ideals and they are worth keeping and striving towards. Do we meet them? No, but what is more important they contradict the Sharia. It is one thing to fail to achieve these ideals, but it is entirely another to see them disappear as a public option under the impact of Sharia. Sharia law limits critical thought, self-criticism, equality of all peoples before the law, freedom of thought and ideas, freedom of religion, public debate, separation of church and state, liberal democracy and humor.
CIVILIZATIONAL WAR
Part of the genius of Islam is the totality of Sharia, which includes a concept of war that attacks the host civilization at every aspect of its being. In modern times the military power of Islam is weak, but this is more than compensated by its ability to attack along legal and cultural lines under the guise of being a religion.
As Sharia is applied to a society, the host civilization is annihilated in each and every manifestation of culture. This annihilation is demonstrated by a peculiar fact about the history of Islamic countries-part of it is missing. Afghanistan used to be a Buddhist civilization. We see its remnants in ruins and fragments such as the Bamiyan Buddhas that were destroyed by the Taliban. Who knows the Buddhist history of Afghanistan? Practically speaking, it does not exist. Who knows the history of how Turkey, North Africa, Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq went from being Christian to Islamic?
We don't know the history because of the total annihilation of the past cultures by Sharia law. As time goes on customs, law, art, literature, and ethics of the host culture are replaced by Islamic values under the application of Sharia. The result is that there is nothing left of the history before the implementation of Sharia law.
There is a second aspect of this annihilation-the dhimmitude of the Kafirs (non-Muslims) remaining inside Islamic society. If you talk to Christians who are left in Islamic countries, they are an abused people who are unable to fight back after centuries of suffering and degradation under Sharia law. They are not supported by other Kafirs and are left to suffer under the oppression that will eliminate their few numbers. Whatever memory they have of the past is ignored by those who should be defending them.
If we are to go down the Sharia road, history teaches that it has always led to an Islamic mono-culture. In the end, there is no such thing as a little Sharia.
Australian senate candidate Wendy Francis says gay marriage is 'emotional child abuse'
A Queensland senate contender in Australia has provoked outrage by calling gay marriage "child abuse" which will lead to "uncontrollable depression and suicide".
Family First candidate Wendy Francis apparently made the remarks on Twitter yesterday.
Although there is some confusion over whether she posted them, she told an interviewer she agreed with the sentiments behind the tweets and had approved them.
The original remarks have been deleted but screengrabs show she wrote: “Children in homosexual relationships are subject to emotional abuse. Legitimising gay marriage is like legalising child abuse."
When followers responded angrily, she added: "Gay marriage = kids with no mothers or no fathers, parent-less generation; uncontrollable depression & suicide. Is that the Aust we want?"
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, she confirmed in an interview that she had approved the tweets.
Ms Francis said: "The gay slur thing; I am not homophobic.
"It is one thing to be homosexual; it's another thing altogether to then impose that on children.
"And I personally do not agree that kids being brought up with a gay couple as surrogate parents is in the best interests of the children."
She added that allowing gay couples to raise children was a "social experiment" that should be considered "emotional child abuse".
Family First believes that marriage should be reserved exclusively for heterosexual couples and claims it defends the rights of "Australian families".
Ms Francis' webpage says she is also concerned about the impact of popular culture on children.
Family First candidate Wendy Francis apparently made the remarks on Twitter yesterday.
Although there is some confusion over whether she posted them, she told an interviewer she agreed with the sentiments behind the tweets and had approved them.
The original remarks have been deleted but screengrabs show she wrote: “Children in homosexual relationships are subject to emotional abuse. Legitimising gay marriage is like legalising child abuse."
When followers responded angrily, she added: "Gay marriage = kids with no mothers or no fathers, parent-less generation; uncontrollable depression & suicide. Is that the Aust we want?"
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, she confirmed in an interview that she had approved the tweets.
Ms Francis said: "The gay slur thing; I am not homophobic.
"It is one thing to be homosexual; it's another thing altogether to then impose that on children.
"And I personally do not agree that kids being brought up with a gay couple as surrogate parents is in the best interests of the children."
She added that allowing gay couples to raise children was a "social experiment" that should be considered "emotional child abuse".
Family First believes that marriage should be reserved exclusively for heterosexual couples and claims it defends the rights of "Australian families".
Ms Francis' webpage says she is also concerned about the impact of popular culture on children.
THE CIVILIZATION OF ISLAM
After a PinkNews.co.uk poll showed high support for opening up civil marriage to gay couples, we asked UK gay rights groups to set out their views on the issue. Eight accepted our invitation, but Stonewall, Britain's largest LGB charity declined to take part and clarify their stance on the issue.
Civil partnerships give gay couples all the rights of marriage, although they may not currently be held in religious settings. The coalition government is exploring how faiths can be given the option of holding them.
However, the majority of gay rights groups support changing the law to allow both gay and straight couples the option of choosing marriages or civil partnerships.
The groups we asked to participate were: Stonewall, LGBT Labour, LGBTory, Delga (the Liberal Democrat LGBT group), OutRage!, the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement, the Lesbian and Gay Foundation and Scottish groups The Equality Network and The LGBT Network.
We asked groups to provide a 400-word statement on the issue.
Stonewall declined to participate but all other groups said they did support changing the law.
Matthew Sephton, LGBTory
LGBTory is in favour of marriage equality, regardless of sexuality or gender identity. We believe this is necessary to promote an equal legal footing for all committed relationships, of whatever kind.
Currently, with Civil Partnerships, there are inconsistencies which mean those in them do not have the same rights as married couples. For example, under international law, if a married couple travel to another jurisdiction they are obliged to be recognised as such; there are no such recognition for Civil Partnerships. Also, if one half of a legally married couple decides to undergo a sex change and stay married, for that union to be recognised the law forces them to be divorced first and then have a Civil Partnership. As well as being an upsetting ordeal, this also has the consequence of changing the start date of their union, which affects areas including tax and pensions. If marriages were non gender specific, there would be no such need and we would like to see amended legislation that makes this the case.
On the religious side, LGBTory welcomes the Prime Minister's recent announcement at the Downing Street LGBT reception that Civil Partnerships will be able to take place in religious contexts. For those people who wish to take this up (and we do not want to see religious institutions forced to take part against their will) this is a positive step forward by the new Government and one which we would like to see included in any change to the marriage laws.
The question of how much of a priority the achievement of such a change in the law is where, we believe, the difficulty lies. We believe that gay marriage (or, more precisely, our wish for non gender-specific marriage, as highlighted earlier) should be achieved as part of a package of reforms on LGBT issues, but that to start on it in isolation would be a mistake.
In the UK, we continue to have issues of life and death and personal safety concerns that exist for the LGBT community. The deportation of asylum seekers whose lives are in danger in their home countries because of their sexuality or gender identity is one such example and that must stop. Another is the need to guarantee full and comprehensive treatment for HIV and in actively pursuing a cure for the virus.
There is also the injustice of the arbitrary gay blood ban and the need to tackle homophobic bullying in schools. Also in education, ensuring that homosexual relationships are taught as part of a broad and balanced sex education curriculum in ALL schools is absolutely vital, regardless of type or of any religious affiliation.
In short, we believe there are overwhelming reasons why a change in the marriage laws is not only desirable but also essential. However, there are other areas of policy where the Government must act first. As an LGBT group, we will be pressing for these reforms to be achieved at the earliest possible opportunity in order that we can subsequently reach the point where marriage for all is not only a possibility but an everyday reality.
James Asser, LGBT Labour co-chair
The last 13 years saw the biggest ever advance in LGBT rights with most of the major aims we were campaigning for throughout the 80s and 90s achieved. This doesn’t mean, however, we have yet achieved full equality or that there aren’t things still to fight for. One area where we still have further progress to make is gay marriage; but it is a measure of how far we have come that we are now having a serious debate about gay marriage that we couldn’t have had 15 or even 10 years ago.
A major breakthrough was civil partnerships giving full legal recognition to gay and lesbian relationships for the first time with all the benefits available to and equal legal status with married couples.
It shouldn’t be forgotten, and all too often is, what an important step forward civil partnerships were, and that it was something we had to fight to achieve. Full legal rights for gay and lesbian couples with the protection and recognition that brings is no small thing. Anyone who has been to a civil partnership will have seen how important it is to the couple, their friends and family to be able have their relationship recognised and we shouldn’t undermine that. Nor should we underestimate how important it has been internationally with over 500 civil partnerships taking place in British consulates. And let’s not be under any illusion, having civil partnerships will make it much easier for us to achieve full marriage.
Looking to the future LGBT Labour supports introducing gay marriage and we’re campaigning within the Labour party for it, including during the leadership election – with all five candidates giving their support. We’d like to see the law changed allowing civil marriage to be available to gay and lesbian couples, as well as civil partnerships made available to straight couples, offering both equality and choice.
We also support the moves led by LGBT Labour patron, Lord Alli, to allow churches to hold civil partnerships. Additionally we will keep campaigning on the pledge in our international LGBT manifesto for full recognition internationally of all British couples – whether married or in civil partnerships.
Whilst we should celebrate our successes, we must never be complacent and must continue campaigning for equality. LGBT Labour campaigned when Labour was in office for the recognition of relationships with legal rights; it is now time to take the next step with gay marriage and we’re campaigning for that too.
Adrian Trett, acting chair of Delga (Liberal Democrat)
Recently countries across the world have been approving same-sex marriage at increasing speed. Ten nations have so far approved it with more looking likely soon.
Our stance is simple: The UK should be leading this list of liberal diverse nations. That’s why Delga, (LGBT Liberal Democrats) decided to introduce a motion at this year’s Autumn Conference, to ensure it will become enshrined in our Party policy and as a result provide a lever for us to take the issue into government where we are part of the Coalition.
When Adrian Trett, Acting Chair of Delga wrote the motion he called it “equal marriage” because that’s what this is all about, it is about being equal, whether Gay or Straight, Lesbian, Bisexual, Cis or transgender. While Civil Partnerships were an enormous step forward, until we are able to choose to classify our relationships as marriage if we wish, we will not be equal. One’s commitment to another person should be open, and free to be celebrated in whichever way you and your partner choose.
Any two individuals, whatever their gender or sexual orientation should be able to choose either a civil partnership or Marriage and celebrate it wherever they want, in a religious building (if that venue is in agreement) or elsewhere. Our motion also calls for overseas marriages and civil partnerships to be rightly equated to their correct equivalents.
We can’t win this campaign alone however, and would like to use this opportunity especially to call upon our Coalition Conservative counterparts LGBTory to join us. We know we have support within the Government. The Deputy Prime Minister and our Party Leader, the Rt Hon Nick Clegg MP, said in the Pink News on the 17th February 2010, “I support gay marriage, Love is the same, straight or gay, so the civil institution should be the same”. This is clear and unwavering support for our motion. We know there are many others as well.
If ever there was a time to stand up and be counted on this issue, the time is now. Together we can make a difference. We can increase the support we have in the Government and win a Commons vote if enough of us stand together to be counted and show them that this is what we want. The question is, will you stand with us? There is no time like the present.
Peter Tatchell, OutRage!
The main issue is not whether same-sex marriage is a priority but whether LGBT people should be banned from getting married. We should not be banned. Equality is the number one issue. No LGBT organisation claiming to support equal rights should remain silent and inactive while we are denied the right to marry. Such outrageous homophobic discrimination must be challenged.
Campaigning for marriage equality does not preclude us from also campaigning against homophobic bullying or for LGBT asylum rights. It is not a case of having to choose one campaign over another. It is possible to simultaneously push for equality on several fronts.
Nor is the main issue whether same-sex marriage is a good thing. I share the feminist critique. Marriage has a history of sexism and patriarchy. I would not want to get married. But as a democrat and human rights defender, I support the right of other LGBTs to marry, if they wish. I resent the fact that people are deemed ineligible to marry, simply because they love a person of the same sex.
Every LGBT organisation should be publicly backing the right of lesbian and gay couples to get married in a registry office on exactly the same terms as heterosexual men and women. Imagine the outcry if the government banned black couples from getting married and required them to register their relationships through a separate system of civil partnerships instead? Most of us would condemn it as racist, to have separate laws for black and white people. We’d call it apartheid, like what used to exist in South Africa. Well, black people are not banned from marriage but lesbian and gay couples are. We are fobbed off with civil partnerships.
Civil partnerships are not equality. They are a new form of discrimination. Separate is not equal. In terms of law, civil partnerships are a form of sexual apartheid. They create a two-tier system of partnership recognition: one law for heterosexuals (civil marriage) and another law for same-sex couples (civil partnerships).
This perpetuates and extends discrimination. The homophobia of the ban on same-sex civil marriage is compounded by the heterophobia of the ban on opposite-sex civil partnerships. Just as a gay couple cannot have a civil marriage, a straight couple cannot have a civil partnership. Two wrongs don’t make a right. In a democracy, we should all be equal before the law.
Rev Sharon Ferguson, Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement
I am so glad that you are talking about 'marriage equality' and not 'Gay marriage'. Marriage is the celebration and legal recognition of the commitment between two people – the gender of those involved should not be an issue. Like most LGBT organisations, LGCM welcomed the legal protection that Civil Partnerships afforded. However, even though from a legal perspective CP's hardly differ from civil marriage there are still a couple of very important aspects of inequality that should not be ignored.
Firstly, straight couples have the choice between a religious marriage and a civil marriage – same sex couples do not. (This is being partially addressed through the amendment in the Equality Bill proposed by Lord Ali). Secondly, by having a separate system for legally recognising same sex relationships the message is clearly that our relationships are not equal and not worthy of the institution of marriage. Many people may object to the institution of marriage per se as it is firmly based in patriarchalism, heterosexism and the ownership of women but if this is the accepted format for recognising relationships then it should be the format available for all people regardless of whether they choose to use it or not.
LGCM has always been very clear that we believe that our sexuality is a gift from God (see our Statement of Conviction) and something to be celebrated. Therefore we should have the same opportunity to celebrate our relationships in the sight of God through religious marriage as everyone else.
As the only difference between the rights and responsibilities of CP's and marriage seems to be that marriage must be consummated and CP's do not have to have a sexual element, it is clear to me that the reason for the distinction is based in religious homophobia. Neither civil nor religious marriage is denied to non believers or people with a non Christian faith and yet it is denied to lesbian and gay people of faith.
The current law also produces a particularly ludicrous scenario for some trans people. If one person of a married couple transitions and the couple choose to remain together, in order for the trans person to be legally registered in their new gender their marriage is basically annulled and they would have to enter into a Civil Partnership instead. Some couples wish to remain true to their vows and to remain married but this then causes many other legal issues for them. It is a similar situation for a same sex couple in a CP if one of them transitions, their CP is dissolved and they can then enter into a marriage.
This two-tier system brings about discrimination and segregation. Consequently, LGCM whilst supporting and celebrating every step in the right direction, will continue to campaign and fight for full equality for all LGBT people which includes the right to both civil and religious marriage. Rev Sharon Ferguson, Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement
Lesbian and Gay Foundation
The Lesbian & Gay Foundation’s priorities are set out in our five year strategic plan and revolve around reaching full equality on all issues, in all walks of life, for lesbian, gay and bisexual people. We believe in full marriage equality for those lesbian, gay and bisexual people who wish to get married, and likewise that civil partnerships should be available to heterosexual couples. Equality means that we all have the same access to the legal opportunities to express our love and commitment, and at the moment this is not the case.
The LGF’s mission statement is “Ending Homophobia, Empowering People” and in 2010 – our 10th anniversary year – that remains our priority. In May we launched our Enough is Enough! Action Against Homophobia campaign, as a direct reaction to the horrifying homophobic attacks on Michael Causer, Ian Baynham and James Parkes.
The campaign highlights that homophobia is still a daily reality for lesbian, gay and bisexual people in the street, at school, at work and for many in the home. Enough is Enough! encourages people, groups and organisations to come together and take positive action to highlight that homophobia is unacceptable and has no place in our society.
There is still a massive need for us to help empower our community, and encourage people to use their rights and legal protections, from lesbian and bisexual women being told that they don’t need a cervical screening when they do, to encouraging people to report homophobic hate crimes and incidents, to urging lesbian, gay and bisexual people to vote, to get involved in public life and to make their voices heard.
We are committed to using the new Equality Act legal protections to challenge discrimination and inequality, and to campaign for lesbian, gay and bisexual peoples’ equal access to public services, and for those services to be receptive to the needs of lesbian, gay and bisexual people. There’s no denying that over the last ten years lesbian, gay and bisexual people have made phenomenal progress in terms of equality. As the LGF looks to the next decade, we hope that we haven’t just made great strides but have full equality on every level – including marriage.
Tim Hopkins, Equality Network
The Equality Network is one of the three main national LGBT equality organisations in Scotland (alongside LGBT Youth Scotland and Stonewall Scotland). We base our work on regular consultation through our network of LGBT people and groups across Scotland.
Civil partnership was a huge step forward, which we worked hard for, but since 2006, people have been telling us that it’s not enough.
In our 2009 national survey, 85% of LGBT people said that same-sex marriage is needed. Only 6% thought the law is OK as it is, and only 9% thought that allowing religious ceremonies for civil partnerships is the answer. 54% said this is a high priority issue.
And it’s not just activists in our network who think this. In July, we asked hundreds of people at Glasgow Pride what their top priorities for LGBT equality were. Same-sex marriage came third, after hate crime and bullying in schools.
Why is equal marriage important? Partly because there is still discrimination in the law: trans people are forced to divorce to get gender recognition, because otherwise a same-sex marriage would be created. And civil partnership is less well recognised abroad than same-sex marriage would be.
But crucially important is that human rights are not just legal rights. They include social and cultural rights. And while our relationships are segregated into a separate status that was invented to deny us marriage, we will never have full social and cultural acceptance and respect. “But it’s not a real marriage is it” is an excuse that homophobes will continue to use. Segregation is not equality.
So we are already 18 months into a campaign to open both marriage and civil partnership in Scotland to couples regardless of gender. It is vital that we keep civil partnership available alongside marriage – while three in four LGBT people told us they would prefer marriage, one in four said they’d prefer civil partnership.
Alongside our colleagues in other Scottish organisations, we have been lobbying hard. A Scottish Parliament committee has already been considering the issue, and we will work to get legislation introduced after the Scottish Parliament election in May 2011.
But it would be easier for us if there was also a strong campaign south of the border, and we would welcome that!
Nick Henderson, LGBT Network
Let same-sex couples marry. Well this is what we have been saying for years! We launched our petition (PE 1239) to the Scottish Parliament in January 2009, requesting a change in the law to allow same-sex couples to have a civil, or a religious marriage, if that faith group consents. This is exactly the right that straight couples have, and we believe, we have always believed, that equality should mean just that – equal rights. A law that discriminates is one that is unjust, and must be changed.
LGBT Brits, banned from marrying, or having foreign same-sex marriages recognised at home (see the travesty of a High Court judgement, Wilkinson v. Kitzinger 2006), get no extra benefits from the ban on same-sex marriage. It’s not like we get a council tax rebate or the chance to win a free holiday in return for giving up our human right to marry. LGBT people pay the same taxes, so why are we not afforded the same rights?
We have always wondered why LGBT people in Britain are not angrier about their denial of rights, especially in the face of all this political consensus. Anyone looking at same-sex marriage in California will have witnessed a monumental battle fought in the streets, the courts and the constitution of California itself for the right to marry; energising millions of Americans, gay and straight, who simply want equality.
Because the battle for same-sex marriage is not really just about the right to marry; it’s about a discriminated against minority finally achieving legal equality. When the federal judge in California struck down Proposition 8 last week, he also said that Domestic Partnerships, which provide the exact same rights as marriage in California, did not convey the same social meaning as marriage, and are unconstitutional. The reason, he said, that they were not an acceptable substitute to marriage was that the state of California created Domestic Partnerships so that it could keep denying same-sex couples their right to marry.
The same goes for us. The reason Britain created Civil Partnerships was so it could keep withholding the human right of marriage from LGBT people. The result is that we are barred from enjoying full citizenship, we are rejected from equality before the law, and we are denied acceptance of our human capacity to love, honour and cherish another for the rest of time.
Civil partnerships give gay couples all the rights of marriage, although they may not currently be held in religious settings. The coalition government is exploring how faiths can be given the option of holding them.
However, the majority of gay rights groups support changing the law to allow both gay and straight couples the option of choosing marriages or civil partnerships.
The groups we asked to participate were: Stonewall, LGBT Labour, LGBTory, Delga (the Liberal Democrat LGBT group), OutRage!, the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement, the Lesbian and Gay Foundation and Scottish groups The Equality Network and The LGBT Network.
We asked groups to provide a 400-word statement on the issue.
Stonewall declined to participate but all other groups said they did support changing the law.
Matthew Sephton, LGBTory
LGBTory is in favour of marriage equality, regardless of sexuality or gender identity. We believe this is necessary to promote an equal legal footing for all committed relationships, of whatever kind.
Currently, with Civil Partnerships, there are inconsistencies which mean those in them do not have the same rights as married couples. For example, under international law, if a married couple travel to another jurisdiction they are obliged to be recognised as such; there are no such recognition for Civil Partnerships. Also, if one half of a legally married couple decides to undergo a sex change and stay married, for that union to be recognised the law forces them to be divorced first and then have a Civil Partnership. As well as being an upsetting ordeal, this also has the consequence of changing the start date of their union, which affects areas including tax and pensions. If marriages were non gender specific, there would be no such need and we would like to see amended legislation that makes this the case.
On the religious side, LGBTory welcomes the Prime Minister's recent announcement at the Downing Street LGBT reception that Civil Partnerships will be able to take place in religious contexts. For those people who wish to take this up (and we do not want to see religious institutions forced to take part against their will) this is a positive step forward by the new Government and one which we would like to see included in any change to the marriage laws.
The question of how much of a priority the achievement of such a change in the law is where, we believe, the difficulty lies. We believe that gay marriage (or, more precisely, our wish for non gender-specific marriage, as highlighted earlier) should be achieved as part of a package of reforms on LGBT issues, but that to start on it in isolation would be a mistake.
In the UK, we continue to have issues of life and death and personal safety concerns that exist for the LGBT community. The deportation of asylum seekers whose lives are in danger in their home countries because of their sexuality or gender identity is one such example and that must stop. Another is the need to guarantee full and comprehensive treatment for HIV and in actively pursuing a cure for the virus.
There is also the injustice of the arbitrary gay blood ban and the need to tackle homophobic bullying in schools. Also in education, ensuring that homosexual relationships are taught as part of a broad and balanced sex education curriculum in ALL schools is absolutely vital, regardless of type or of any religious affiliation.
In short, we believe there are overwhelming reasons why a change in the marriage laws is not only desirable but also essential. However, there are other areas of policy where the Government must act first. As an LGBT group, we will be pressing for these reforms to be achieved at the earliest possible opportunity in order that we can subsequently reach the point where marriage for all is not only a possibility but an everyday reality.
James Asser, LGBT Labour co-chair
The last 13 years saw the biggest ever advance in LGBT rights with most of the major aims we were campaigning for throughout the 80s and 90s achieved. This doesn’t mean, however, we have yet achieved full equality or that there aren’t things still to fight for. One area where we still have further progress to make is gay marriage; but it is a measure of how far we have come that we are now having a serious debate about gay marriage that we couldn’t have had 15 or even 10 years ago.
A major breakthrough was civil partnerships giving full legal recognition to gay and lesbian relationships for the first time with all the benefits available to and equal legal status with married couples.
It shouldn’t be forgotten, and all too often is, what an important step forward civil partnerships were, and that it was something we had to fight to achieve. Full legal rights for gay and lesbian couples with the protection and recognition that brings is no small thing. Anyone who has been to a civil partnership will have seen how important it is to the couple, their friends and family to be able have their relationship recognised and we shouldn’t undermine that. Nor should we underestimate how important it has been internationally with over 500 civil partnerships taking place in British consulates. And let’s not be under any illusion, having civil partnerships will make it much easier for us to achieve full marriage.
Looking to the future LGBT Labour supports introducing gay marriage and we’re campaigning within the Labour party for it, including during the leadership election – with all five candidates giving their support. We’d like to see the law changed allowing civil marriage to be available to gay and lesbian couples, as well as civil partnerships made available to straight couples, offering both equality and choice.
We also support the moves led by LGBT Labour patron, Lord Alli, to allow churches to hold civil partnerships. Additionally we will keep campaigning on the pledge in our international LGBT manifesto for full recognition internationally of all British couples – whether married or in civil partnerships.
Whilst we should celebrate our successes, we must never be complacent and must continue campaigning for equality. LGBT Labour campaigned when Labour was in office for the recognition of relationships with legal rights; it is now time to take the next step with gay marriage and we’re campaigning for that too.
Adrian Trett, acting chair of Delga (Liberal Democrat)
Recently countries across the world have been approving same-sex marriage at increasing speed. Ten nations have so far approved it with more looking likely soon.
Our stance is simple: The UK should be leading this list of liberal diverse nations. That’s why Delga, (LGBT Liberal Democrats) decided to introduce a motion at this year’s Autumn Conference, to ensure it will become enshrined in our Party policy and as a result provide a lever for us to take the issue into government where we are part of the Coalition.
When Adrian Trett, Acting Chair of Delga wrote the motion he called it “equal marriage” because that’s what this is all about, it is about being equal, whether Gay or Straight, Lesbian, Bisexual, Cis or transgender. While Civil Partnerships were an enormous step forward, until we are able to choose to classify our relationships as marriage if we wish, we will not be equal. One’s commitment to another person should be open, and free to be celebrated in whichever way you and your partner choose.
Any two individuals, whatever their gender or sexual orientation should be able to choose either a civil partnership or Marriage and celebrate it wherever they want, in a religious building (if that venue is in agreement) or elsewhere. Our motion also calls for overseas marriages and civil partnerships to be rightly equated to their correct equivalents.
We can’t win this campaign alone however, and would like to use this opportunity especially to call upon our Coalition Conservative counterparts LGBTory to join us. We know we have support within the Government. The Deputy Prime Minister and our Party Leader, the Rt Hon Nick Clegg MP, said in the Pink News on the 17th February 2010, “I support gay marriage, Love is the same, straight or gay, so the civil institution should be the same”. This is clear and unwavering support for our motion. We know there are many others as well.
If ever there was a time to stand up and be counted on this issue, the time is now. Together we can make a difference. We can increase the support we have in the Government and win a Commons vote if enough of us stand together to be counted and show them that this is what we want. The question is, will you stand with us? There is no time like the present.
Peter Tatchell, OutRage!
The main issue is not whether same-sex marriage is a priority but whether LGBT people should be banned from getting married. We should not be banned. Equality is the number one issue. No LGBT organisation claiming to support equal rights should remain silent and inactive while we are denied the right to marry. Such outrageous homophobic discrimination must be challenged.
Campaigning for marriage equality does not preclude us from also campaigning against homophobic bullying or for LGBT asylum rights. It is not a case of having to choose one campaign over another. It is possible to simultaneously push for equality on several fronts.
Nor is the main issue whether same-sex marriage is a good thing. I share the feminist critique. Marriage has a history of sexism and patriarchy. I would not want to get married. But as a democrat and human rights defender, I support the right of other LGBTs to marry, if they wish. I resent the fact that people are deemed ineligible to marry, simply because they love a person of the same sex.
Every LGBT organisation should be publicly backing the right of lesbian and gay couples to get married in a registry office on exactly the same terms as heterosexual men and women. Imagine the outcry if the government banned black couples from getting married and required them to register their relationships through a separate system of civil partnerships instead? Most of us would condemn it as racist, to have separate laws for black and white people. We’d call it apartheid, like what used to exist in South Africa. Well, black people are not banned from marriage but lesbian and gay couples are. We are fobbed off with civil partnerships.
Civil partnerships are not equality. They are a new form of discrimination. Separate is not equal. In terms of law, civil partnerships are a form of sexual apartheid. They create a two-tier system of partnership recognition: one law for heterosexuals (civil marriage) and another law for same-sex couples (civil partnerships).
This perpetuates and extends discrimination. The homophobia of the ban on same-sex civil marriage is compounded by the heterophobia of the ban on opposite-sex civil partnerships. Just as a gay couple cannot have a civil marriage, a straight couple cannot have a civil partnership. Two wrongs don’t make a right. In a democracy, we should all be equal before the law.
Rev Sharon Ferguson, Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement
I am so glad that you are talking about 'marriage equality' and not 'Gay marriage'. Marriage is the celebration and legal recognition of the commitment between two people – the gender of those involved should not be an issue. Like most LGBT organisations, LGCM welcomed the legal protection that Civil Partnerships afforded. However, even though from a legal perspective CP's hardly differ from civil marriage there are still a couple of very important aspects of inequality that should not be ignored.
Firstly, straight couples have the choice between a religious marriage and a civil marriage – same sex couples do not. (This is being partially addressed through the amendment in the Equality Bill proposed by Lord Ali). Secondly, by having a separate system for legally recognising same sex relationships the message is clearly that our relationships are not equal and not worthy of the institution of marriage. Many people may object to the institution of marriage per se as it is firmly based in patriarchalism, heterosexism and the ownership of women but if this is the accepted format for recognising relationships then it should be the format available for all people regardless of whether they choose to use it or not.
LGCM has always been very clear that we believe that our sexuality is a gift from God (see our Statement of Conviction) and something to be celebrated. Therefore we should have the same opportunity to celebrate our relationships in the sight of God through religious marriage as everyone else.
As the only difference between the rights and responsibilities of CP's and marriage seems to be that marriage must be consummated and CP's do not have to have a sexual element, it is clear to me that the reason for the distinction is based in religious homophobia. Neither civil nor religious marriage is denied to non believers or people with a non Christian faith and yet it is denied to lesbian and gay people of faith.
The current law also produces a particularly ludicrous scenario for some trans people. If one person of a married couple transitions and the couple choose to remain together, in order for the trans person to be legally registered in their new gender their marriage is basically annulled and they would have to enter into a Civil Partnership instead. Some couples wish to remain true to their vows and to remain married but this then causes many other legal issues for them. It is a similar situation for a same sex couple in a CP if one of them transitions, their CP is dissolved and they can then enter into a marriage.
This two-tier system brings about discrimination and segregation. Consequently, LGCM whilst supporting and celebrating every step in the right direction, will continue to campaign and fight for full equality for all LGBT people which includes the right to both civil and religious marriage. Rev Sharon Ferguson, Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement
Lesbian and Gay Foundation
The Lesbian & Gay Foundation’s priorities are set out in our five year strategic plan and revolve around reaching full equality on all issues, in all walks of life, for lesbian, gay and bisexual people. We believe in full marriage equality for those lesbian, gay and bisexual people who wish to get married, and likewise that civil partnerships should be available to heterosexual couples. Equality means that we all have the same access to the legal opportunities to express our love and commitment, and at the moment this is not the case.
The LGF’s mission statement is “Ending Homophobia, Empowering People” and in 2010 – our 10th anniversary year – that remains our priority. In May we launched our Enough is Enough! Action Against Homophobia campaign, as a direct reaction to the horrifying homophobic attacks on Michael Causer, Ian Baynham and James Parkes.
The campaign highlights that homophobia is still a daily reality for lesbian, gay and bisexual people in the street, at school, at work and for many in the home. Enough is Enough! encourages people, groups and organisations to come together and take positive action to highlight that homophobia is unacceptable and has no place in our society.
There is still a massive need for us to help empower our community, and encourage people to use their rights and legal protections, from lesbian and bisexual women being told that they don’t need a cervical screening when they do, to encouraging people to report homophobic hate crimes and incidents, to urging lesbian, gay and bisexual people to vote, to get involved in public life and to make their voices heard.
We are committed to using the new Equality Act legal protections to challenge discrimination and inequality, and to campaign for lesbian, gay and bisexual peoples’ equal access to public services, and for those services to be receptive to the needs of lesbian, gay and bisexual people. There’s no denying that over the last ten years lesbian, gay and bisexual people have made phenomenal progress in terms of equality. As the LGF looks to the next decade, we hope that we haven’t just made great strides but have full equality on every level – including marriage.
Tim Hopkins, Equality Network
The Equality Network is one of the three main national LGBT equality organisations in Scotland (alongside LGBT Youth Scotland and Stonewall Scotland). We base our work on regular consultation through our network of LGBT people and groups across Scotland.
Civil partnership was a huge step forward, which we worked hard for, but since 2006, people have been telling us that it’s not enough.
In our 2009 national survey, 85% of LGBT people said that same-sex marriage is needed. Only 6% thought the law is OK as it is, and only 9% thought that allowing religious ceremonies for civil partnerships is the answer. 54% said this is a high priority issue.
And it’s not just activists in our network who think this. In July, we asked hundreds of people at Glasgow Pride what their top priorities for LGBT equality were. Same-sex marriage came third, after hate crime and bullying in schools.
Why is equal marriage important? Partly because there is still discrimination in the law: trans people are forced to divorce to get gender recognition, because otherwise a same-sex marriage would be created. And civil partnership is less well recognised abroad than same-sex marriage would be.
But crucially important is that human rights are not just legal rights. They include social and cultural rights. And while our relationships are segregated into a separate status that was invented to deny us marriage, we will never have full social and cultural acceptance and respect. “But it’s not a real marriage is it” is an excuse that homophobes will continue to use. Segregation is not equality.
So we are already 18 months into a campaign to open both marriage and civil partnership in Scotland to couples regardless of gender. It is vital that we keep civil partnership available alongside marriage – while three in four LGBT people told us they would prefer marriage, one in four said they’d prefer civil partnership.
Alongside our colleagues in other Scottish organisations, we have been lobbying hard. A Scottish Parliament committee has already been considering the issue, and we will work to get legislation introduced after the Scottish Parliament election in May 2011.
But it would be easier for us if there was also a strong campaign south of the border, and we would welcome that!
Nick Henderson, LGBT Network
Let same-sex couples marry. Well this is what we have been saying for years! We launched our petition (PE 1239) to the Scottish Parliament in January 2009, requesting a change in the law to allow same-sex couples to have a civil, or a religious marriage, if that faith group consents. This is exactly the right that straight couples have, and we believe, we have always believed, that equality should mean just that – equal rights. A law that discriminates is one that is unjust, and must be changed.
LGBT Brits, banned from marrying, or having foreign same-sex marriages recognised at home (see the travesty of a High Court judgement, Wilkinson v. Kitzinger 2006), get no extra benefits from the ban on same-sex marriage. It’s not like we get a council tax rebate or the chance to win a free holiday in return for giving up our human right to marry. LGBT people pay the same taxes, so why are we not afforded the same rights?
We have always wondered why LGBT people in Britain are not angrier about their denial of rights, especially in the face of all this political consensus. Anyone looking at same-sex marriage in California will have witnessed a monumental battle fought in the streets, the courts and the constitution of California itself for the right to marry; energising millions of Americans, gay and straight, who simply want equality.
Because the battle for same-sex marriage is not really just about the right to marry; it’s about a discriminated against minority finally achieving legal equality. When the federal judge in California struck down Proposition 8 last week, he also said that Domestic Partnerships, which provide the exact same rights as marriage in California, did not convey the same social meaning as marriage, and are unconstitutional. The reason, he said, that they were not an acceptable substitute to marriage was that the state of California created Domestic Partnerships so that it could keep denying same-sex couples their right to marry.
The same goes for us. The reason Britain created Civil Partnerships was so it could keep withholding the human right of marriage from LGBT people. The result is that we are barred from enjoying full citizenship, we are rejected from equality before the law, and we are denied acceptance of our human capacity to love, honour and cherish another for the rest of time.
Is marriage equality a priority?
Time to end the ban on same-sex marriage
London - 19 August 2010
A recent Pink News poll, found that 98% of its readers believe that civil partnerships are not enough. They want full same-sex civil marriage.
The main UK gay lobby group, Stonewall, does not call or campaign for marriage equality; claiming it is not a priority.
All other major LGBT groups oppose the ban on gay marriage and want registry office civil marriages to be open to all couples, without discrimination.
Peter Tatchell of OutRage! writes for Pink News
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2010/08/18/gay-rights-groups-set-out-positions-on-marriage-equality/
The main issue is not whether same-sex marriage is a priority but whether LGBT people should be banned from getting married. We should not be banned. Equality is the number one issue.
No LGBT organisation claiming to support equal rights should remain silent and inactive while we are denied the right to marry. Such outrageous homophobic discrimination must be challenged.
Campaigning for marriage equality does not preclude us from also campaigning against homophobic bullying or for LGBT asylum rights. It is not a case of having to choose one campaign over another. It is possible to simultaneously push for equality on several fronts.
Nor is the main issue whether same-sex marriage is a good thing. I share the feminist critique. Marriage has a history of sexism and patriarchy. I would not want to get married. But as a democrat and human rights defender, I support the right of other LGBTs to marry, if they wish. I resent the fact that people are deemed ineligible to marry, simply because they love a person of the same sex.
Every LGBT organisation should be publicly backing the right of lesbian and gay couples to get married in a registry office on exactly the same terms as heterosexual men and women.
Imagine the outcry if the government banned black couples from getting married and required them to register their relationships through a separate system of civil partnerships instead?
Most of us would condemn it as racist, to have separate laws for black and white people. We'd call it apartheid, like what used to exist in South Africa.
Well, black people are not banned from marriage but lesbian and gay couples are. We are fobbed off with civil partnerships.
Civil partnerships are not equality. They are a new form of discrimination. Separate is not equal.
In terms of law, civil partnerships are a form of sexual apartheid. They create a two-tier system of partnership recognition: one law for heterosexuals (civil marriage) and another law for same-sex couples (civil partnerships).
This perpetuates and extends discrimination. The homophobia of the ban on same-sex civil marriage is compounded by the heterophobia of the ban on opposite-sex civil partnerships. Just as a gay couple cannot have a civil marriage, a straight couple cannot have a civil partnership.
Two wrongs don't make a right. In a democracy, we should all be equal before the law.
Note:
The views of other LGBT organisations and campaigners can be viewed here on the Pink News website:
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2010/08/18/gay-rights-groups-set-out-positions-on-marriage-equality/
Britain's main gay rights lobby group, Stonewall, declined to participate and was not willing to express its point of view.
London - 19 August 2010
A recent Pink News poll, found that 98% of its readers believe that civil partnerships are not enough. They want full same-sex civil marriage.
The main UK gay lobby group, Stonewall, does not call or campaign for marriage equality; claiming it is not a priority.
All other major LGBT groups oppose the ban on gay marriage and want registry office civil marriages to be open to all couples, without discrimination.
Peter Tatchell of OutRage! writes for Pink News
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2010/08/18/gay-rights-groups-set-out-positions-on-marriage-equality/
The main issue is not whether same-sex marriage is a priority but whether LGBT people should be banned from getting married. We should not be banned. Equality is the number one issue.
No LGBT organisation claiming to support equal rights should remain silent and inactive while we are denied the right to marry. Such outrageous homophobic discrimination must be challenged.
Campaigning for marriage equality does not preclude us from also campaigning against homophobic bullying or for LGBT asylum rights. It is not a case of having to choose one campaign over another. It is possible to simultaneously push for equality on several fronts.
Nor is the main issue whether same-sex marriage is a good thing. I share the feminist critique. Marriage has a history of sexism and patriarchy. I would not want to get married. But as a democrat and human rights defender, I support the right of other LGBTs to marry, if they wish. I resent the fact that people are deemed ineligible to marry, simply because they love a person of the same sex.
Every LGBT organisation should be publicly backing the right of lesbian and gay couples to get married in a registry office on exactly the same terms as heterosexual men and women.
Imagine the outcry if the government banned black couples from getting married and required them to register their relationships through a separate system of civil partnerships instead?
Most of us would condemn it as racist, to have separate laws for black and white people. We'd call it apartheid, like what used to exist in South Africa.
Well, black people are not banned from marriage but lesbian and gay couples are. We are fobbed off with civil partnerships.
Civil partnerships are not equality. They are a new form of discrimination. Separate is not equal.
In terms of law, civil partnerships are a form of sexual apartheid. They create a two-tier system of partnership recognition: one law for heterosexuals (civil marriage) and another law for same-sex couples (civil partnerships).
This perpetuates and extends discrimination. The homophobia of the ban on same-sex civil marriage is compounded by the heterophobia of the ban on opposite-sex civil partnerships. Just as a gay couple cannot have a civil marriage, a straight couple cannot have a civil partnership.
Two wrongs don't make a right. In a democracy, we should all be equal before the law.
Note:
The views of other LGBT organisations and campaigners can be viewed here on the Pink News website:
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2010/08/18/gay-rights-groups-set-out-positions-on-marriage-equality/
Britain's main gay rights lobby group, Stonewall, declined to participate and was not willing to express its point of view.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Winds from Malawi's ammended flag
Let fly the defaced flag,
Cutting across the Southerly winds,
As the Malawi sun,
Passes through some black back ground.
Let the world behold the unfurling of a white sun,
Because darkness no longer roams the Blantyre,
Lilongwe,
Mzuzu,
Dedza,
Salima,
Nkhata-bay,
Rumphi,
Chitipa,
Kasungu,
Nkhota-kota,
Nsanje,
And Mulanje
Night.
Red no longer lives,
Where once the rising sun peeped through the cloud.
It is black in its stead,
A symbol of the tarred miles we have walked,
Under the professor,
A professor without real students.
As naughty University of Malawi students scuffle for limited space,
And lecturers eat chips marked with chalk dust,
The professor without students has made a classroom out of the nation,
Filling the Makiyolobasi Director General's mouth with some weighty verbage
At the mention of the professor without students's name.
As the flag waves at the passing sun,
Making friends with everyday winds,
Chasing sanity from the solemn sky,
Some contemporaries of the professor without students wave good-bye,
To the national-class that stares above from below,
Making do with the thumbing of the professor without students' s feet.
The flag huggs the night owl,
Looking perplexed at its lazy flow,
And the professor with students says 'No',
See you somewhere beyond the blue sky,
Having been failed by the Ocean vehicle I pushed,
To promote your well-being.
So the flag waves again,
Waving bye to the man no longer being,
Having lost his invisible life flag,
Somewhere Down South,
Whence he trodded to seek new life,
Perhaps a new breath.
The sound of the new flag howls no more,
As now it is the professor without students's howl,
Condoling the morning star,
Over the other real professor's over-flown soul.
'Flags, like poles that hoist them, do not live long'
He reminds the class-of-a-nation that nothing is eternal under the new flag,
And that flying from Down South will not make it eternal.
But knows the class-of-a-nation that the professor without students through an invisible arrow,
Into the soul of the gone sparrow,
Sending him up yonder,
Beyond the new flag
Cutting across the Southerly winds,
As the Malawi sun,
Passes through some black back ground.
Let the world behold the unfurling of a white sun,
Because darkness no longer roams the Blantyre,
Lilongwe,
Mzuzu,
Dedza,
Salima,
Nkhata-bay,
Rumphi,
Chitipa,
Kasungu,
Nkhota-kota,
Nsanje,
And Mulanje
Night.
Red no longer lives,
Where once the rising sun peeped through the cloud.
It is black in its stead,
A symbol of the tarred miles we have walked,
Under the professor,
A professor without real students.
As naughty University of Malawi students scuffle for limited space,
And lecturers eat chips marked with chalk dust,
The professor without students has made a classroom out of the nation,
Filling the Makiyolobasi Director General's mouth with some weighty verbage
At the mention of the professor without students's name.
As the flag waves at the passing sun,
Making friends with everyday winds,
Chasing sanity from the solemn sky,
Some contemporaries of the professor without students wave good-bye,
To the national-class that stares above from below,
Making do with the thumbing of the professor without students' s feet.
The flag huggs the night owl,
Looking perplexed at its lazy flow,
And the professor with students says 'No',
See you somewhere beyond the blue sky,
Having been failed by the Ocean vehicle I pushed,
To promote your well-being.
So the flag waves again,
Waving bye to the man no longer being,
Having lost his invisible life flag,
Somewhere Down South,
Whence he trodded to seek new life,
Perhaps a new breath.
The sound of the new flag howls no more,
As now it is the professor without students's howl,
Condoling the morning star,
Over the other real professor's over-flown soul.
'Flags, like poles that hoist them, do not live long'
He reminds the class-of-a-nation that nothing is eternal under the new flag,
And that flying from Down South will not make it eternal.
But knows the class-of-a-nation that the professor without students through an invisible arrow,
Into the soul of the gone sparrow,
Sending him up yonder,
Beyond the new flag
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