* Shame and legal fear forces victims of fierce stigma and survivors of violence not to report to law enforcement agents
* Since police are often reluctant to assist while at the same time re-traumatising the violence the survivors experienced
* Why is the media silent on plight of LGBTIQ+ people? Why does the media carry sensational headlines on issues of LGBTIQ+ people?
* Are you also afraid that you will be targeted in a violent manner just like we do? Or do you avoid to be stigmatised as queer as well?
Analysis by Duncan Mlanjira
It takes personal courage and determination to report issues about lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer (LGBTQ+) people because of what the stigma that the public perceives this topic — including its legal aspect to do with same-sex marriage and the religious interpretation.
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But LGBTQ+ goes beyond same-sex marriage and far beyond the moral and religious perception of these people — it’s about human rights, the rights bestowed upon every citizen of the world as enshrined in the United Nations’ Human Rights Charter.
Internationally, “human rights are universally recognised moral principles or norms, that establish standards of human behavior and are often protected by both national and international laws”.
“Human rights are fundamental freedoms and protections inherent to all individuals, regardless of their background, or location and are essential for a life of dignity and equality.
“They are universal, meaning, they apply to everyone and are based on the principle of equality, dignity, and mutual respect. These rights are not earned but are inherent, meaning everyone is born with them.
“Human rights are rights inherent to all human beings regardless of race, sex, nationality, ethnicity, language, religion or any other status” — including for people in the LGBTQ+ community.
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Taking cognizance that the media is silent to report on the plight and challenges of LGBTIQ+ people, human rights media organisation, Centre for Solutions Journalism (CSJ), is in constant engagement with the 4th Estate to report in fair manner for the public to realise that this community faces persecution they don’t deserve.
The challenge to cisgender, straight people, believe being either LGBTQ+ is a sin but it is not — it’s a defect at birth as are many other body physical defects (disabilities).
At a recent engagement with the media, Centre for Solutions Journalism brought along legal consultant, Mateyu Sisya, who analysed the Malawi Constitution on human rights, saying there is no definition of human rights in the Constitution. “However, there is a Bill of Rights in Chapter IV (starting from section 15 to 46):
* Section 12 of the Constitution is one of the Fundamental Constitutional Principles and it reads: (1) This Constitution is founded upon the following principles (d) ‘The inherent dignity and worth of each human being requires that the state and all persons shall recognise and protect human rights and afford the fullest protection to the rights and views of all individuals, groups and minorities whether they are entitled to vote or not’;
* (2) ‘Every individual shall have duties towards other individuals, his or her family and society, the state and other legally recognised communities and international community, and these duties shall include the duty to respect his or her fellow beings without discrimination and to maintain relations aimed at promoting, safeguarding and reinforcing mutual respect and tolerance, and in recognition of these duties, individual rights and freedoms shall be exercised with due regard for the rights of others, collective security, morality and common interest’.
The LGBTIQ+ people are included in this constitutional rights — but do they? From their experiences they shared at the media engagement, they do not; they are stigmatised to the point of facing personal harm and are denied medical assistance even though they meet their tax obligations just like every else.
In fact, when the medical authorities seek donor aid, the conditions are that medical needs of the LGBTIQ+ people should be addressed, but that funding is barely accessed by this community because of the stigma healthcare workers have over these people.
Yet these healthcare workers are very much aware that being an LGBTIQ+ is a biological defect, so to say. One is born and classified as male or female according to the genitalia they were born with but, as confirmed by Emily* (not real name) they start having sexual feelings for members of the same sex at puberty.
For Emily* — one of the participants at the CSJ media engagement — she started admiring fellow girls at puberty stage and never saw a man in same intimate feelings and much as she tried to, she couldn’t dismiss such affections.
“Likewise, I started noticing that other girls were also eyeing me in same tenderness I was perceiving them and we clicked. I couldn’t tell my parents but I noted that my mother seemed to realise the situation I was in.
“She never spoke about it and I tried as much as possible not to engage her on the subject because her silence meant she was in emotional pain, which I realised later that it was due to public perception on LGBTIQ+ people — knowing I would face fierce stigma for the rest of my life.”
Emily* further said the only people she is comfortable to be in company with are the LGBTIQ+, with whom she enjoys immense camaraderie but she wishes she could interact with the rest of the community members — because she is a human being just like every one else.
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In between the interaction, there were breaks in which both of us fell silent — and in one moment she posed questions: “Why is the media silent on plight of LGBTIQ+ people? Why does the media carry sensational headlines on issues of LGBTIQ+ people?
“Are you also afraid that you will be targeted in a violent manner just like we do? Or do you avoid to be stigmatised as queer as well? Are you reaching out to me because I accepted to attend that meeting?”
When put to her that LGBTIQ+ people keep a tight secret of their status, thus some of journalists are unable to determine the extent of the stigma they suffer to the extent of facing personal harm, Emily* confirmed that for their security, they have to hide their status.
“Until people would realise that we mean no harm — and that they appreciate that we did not choose to be born this way, I am sure we will live in harmony by respecting each others human rights.”
Another LGBTIQ+ person, Benard* shared almost Emily’s* experience, adding that the public tend to quickly notice LGBTIQ+ men because of those born with female hormones, who start developing breasts or through their female body language.
“It was terrible at school when it became apparent that I was an LGBTIQ+ person which forced me to be in exclusion from others until sanity prevailed when a teacher explained to the boys that being in such a status was not by choice but nature taking a wrong turn.
“The teacher explained to them in my absence, but I was told of what he explained by a classmate who never abandoned me because he gave me space and I gave his. Gradually, I was accepted but in the general society, I still face stigma.”
Benard* also echoed Emily’s* sentiments that they are forced to engage with fellow LGBTIQ+ in order to secure themselves from harm, adding that it’s very unfortunate because in a community at large, “we need to share ideas towards our prosperity”.
“Though ours is a small community, we have big ideas — economic or otherwise — that we can share towards individual or group prosperity.”
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Benard* also said shame and legal fear forces victims of fierce stigma and survivors of violence not to report to law enforcement agents since police are often reluctant to assist while at the same time re-traumatising the violence the survivors experienced.
On religious perspective, one of the presenters at the media engagement advised that the Bible should not be taken out of context because there are eight passages in the Bible which refer directly or indirectly to sexual orientation (homosexuality): the creation story as narrated in Genesis 1-3; the Sodom narrative in Genesis 19: 1-26; Judges 19; Leviticus 18: 22; Leviticus 20: 13; Romans 1:26-27; Corithians 6: 9-10 and 1 Timothy 1:10.
The Bible should not be read literally, he said, because if this happens, then there is need for more explanation — such as the following Bible verses that are not read literally:
* The punishment for adultery was to stone both man and woman to death (Deuteronomy 22:22);
* Having intercourse with a woman who is menstruating could lead to excommunication (Leviticus 18: 19, 29)
* Women were explicitly forbidden to wear men’s clothing (Deuteronomy 22:5);
* It was wrong to lend money at interest to a fellow Israelite (Deuteronomy 23: 19);
* 1 Corinthians 14: 34-35 and 1 Timothy 2: 11-12 forbade women to speak in the congregation;
* Whoever curses his father or mother shall be put to death (Exodus 21:17);
* Stubborn and rebellious son should be stoned to death (Deuteronomy 21: 18-21);
* Death to whoever strikes parents (Exodus 21:15);
* Do not wear clothes of wool and linen woven together (Deuteronomy 22:11).
“Caution should be exercised when reading the Bible as traditionalism or fundamentalism tend to isolate specific verses from their broader meaning; there is inconsistent application of the literal method and the temptation of some /preachers/translators to use their prejudice and misconceptions.”
Another presenter was George Hopkins Kachimanga (MBS, BSc) of Social Justice Foundation — a human rights organisation that aims to redress the social injustices encountered by the vulnerable and marginalised community, including the LGBTIQ+ individuals, by acting as a bridge at all societal levels.
He explained stereotypes over sexual orientation of people that “when a child is born with a penis, the society teaches the baby to be masculine and have relationships with the opposite sex — society assumes he must be straight”.
“Another assumption is if you are female, you must be feminine, and therefore straight; or if a boy is gay, then as a male he must be feminine — that is how a homosexual man should be.”
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He explained of other gross stereotypes that “if lesbian, you are female and therefore you must be masculine — it does not always work like that; you can get a male who is very masculine, who is homosexual or a female, who is very feminine, and homosexual.
“Masculine or feminine does not determine a person’s sexual orientation — there are males with feminine characteristics who are straight and females with masculine characteristics who are straight.“
He also defined intersex where a child is born with both genitalia organs. In the past, these children underwent surgery after the parents choosing its sex, say to be a boy “but, later in life at about puberty, the ‘boy’ developed breasts”.
“These days, a choice is not made immediately, and the child is allowed to grow up without any ‘corrective’ surgery and supported to make their own choice in terms of sex and gender identity.
“Having an intersex child can be very traumatic for parents. According to Intersex SA, one in 500 babies in Africa is born intersex today.”
Social Justice Foundation strives to create a more inclusive and just society where the vulnerable and marginalised communities are fully socially included and accepted.
It is dedicated to advocating for the full endowment of social justice to the vulnerable and marginalized community in Malawi through the promotion of equity, equality and social inclusion.
The bottom line is one is born an LGBTIQ+ not by choice and cannot in anyway change that status. The only decision the rest of the community members is to accept the reality and respect their human rights as enshrined in the United Nations’ Human Rights Charter and the Malawi’s Bill of Human Rights.
