The debate over gay rights has been making headlines in Malawi. Earlier this month, Catholic bishops in the country urged President Peter Mutharika not to legalize homosexuality, after he called for gay rights to be protected.
Last year, Malawi announced a ban on anti-homosexual laws pending a decision on whether to repeal the legislation. If the government does decriminalize homosexuality, it will join neighbouring Mozambique and a few other African countries. For now however, the situation remains unclear.
The country’s Ministry of Gender, Children, Disability & Social Welfare passed what it called a comprehensive Marriage Act at the start of last year. In it, marriage is not meant for “persons of the same sex”, and sex is defined as “the sex of a person at birth”. Rights groups say this discriminates against the LGBTI community. The minister says if members of that community are not happy, they should speak out.
Those opposed to gay rights have urged the government to make its position clear. Catholic bishops in the country have also weighed in, calling on president Mutharika not to bow to what they’ve called international donor pressure to legalize homosexuality.
