Extra liberal on homosexuality?

MAY 26, 2012

When I was writing last week’s entry on homosexuality, I knew that it was not going to be everybody’s cup of tea for the mere reason that this is a sensitive matter that seeks to realign how we have lived and touches on the very core of our existence as Malawians. As you might imagine, I got lots of feedback.

Some responses were outright patronising while others thought it was a fair treatise of the subject. Yet others expressed revulsion at my views as well as deep disappointment in me for backing homosexuality.

I would be unfair on my part if I kept it all to myself as it has now become clear that battle lines have been drawn and that this issue is going to dominate debate in the days to come, especially that Joyce Banda’s government has taken a deliberate policy to do away with oppressive laws that the DPP government made a habit of churning out of Parliament.

I, therefore, take the liberty to reproduce some of the feedback in the same spirit of continuing the debate.

 

Dear George,
I am Rev. A. Chikondi Phiri. I am the moderator of Chilanga Presbytery in the C.C.A.P. Nkhoma Synod based at Chilanga. I know you are familiar with this place.
For the first time, I have to disagree with you. I am alarmed at your extra liberal approach to the issue of homosexuality. I have to tell you that this moral sin will harm the traditional marriage.
• Gay marriages will undermine the institution of marriage
• Gay couples are unnatural and unnatural unions cannot be marriage
•Gay marriages can’t be a real marriage

Marriage is not just an institution, but also a symbol representing our culture’s ideals about sex, sexuality and human relationships.
Symbols are important – they are a common cultural currency which we each use to help create our sense of self. Thus, when the traditional nature of marriage is challenged in any way, so are people’s basic identities.

I exhort that your next article should be titled Defence of Marriage, otherwise I am losing you. By the way, next week I am planning to visit your village and I will preach to your relatives against what you wrote on Saturday 26th May, 2012.

Hope to hear from you soon,
Yours in His Service
Rev. A. Chikondi Phiri

 

Your article May 18, 2012 in Weekend Nation of 26/5/12 is beautifully crafted. Its points are pegged on the obvious which the faith community fails to unveil to us. One has to go over Tutu’s gesture in Scotland as he is mounting the podium to speak on homosexuals. So today you are giving a similar message in your own diction. Thank you sir.—0991579999

 

Yes, I agree, and the gays and lesbians are better than those women that walk half-dressed in our streets in broad day light. It would be better to criminalise such straight women than gays.—Anonymous

 

George, I applaud you for the article. The issue of homosexuality is being criticised by warped minds. I wish I had a forum to school the homophobic team . I do not know what it takes to feature in Weekend Nation’s Opinion and Analysis—Stevens Thengo, Blantyre.

 

Hi George,

While not trying to fault your piece, should we use the same reasoning to decriminalise incest among consenting adults of course?—0994189626

 

George,
What we need as a country is to do nothing to that law. As things are, we will expose our kids to these bad apples in the society.—A Chinkono

 

George,

I do not condone homosexuals but I like your reasoning in today’s article and I hope many do.—William Mmangeni

 

My conclusion

As I said last week, I do not like homosexuality any bit but I just think as a country we have no business being over cruel and sadistic to gays and lesbians because of their unnatural disposition.

This is my uncomplicated contribution to the debate. The issue is merely stopping that unnecessary and brutal act of sending them to jail for their condition. If this is being over liberal, then let it be but my duty as a columnist is to go to the unchartered waters with you, my dear readers.