Gay men marry in Argentina and Malawi
”As a couple, we have been dreaming with getting married for a long time…. We were aware [that Governor Fabiana RÃÂÂos is strongly in favor of gay marriage], she had even signed a project and had made her stance a public one.”
Alex Freyre of Argentina, who married his gay male partner, José MarÃÂÂa di Bello, in a ceremony that appears to be Latin America‘s first legal gay marriage. The couple earlier this year won a court case where a judge concluded the men should be allowed to marry legally. But just before their scheduled marriage on World AIDS Day, at the beginning of December, another court in Buenos Aires put their wedding on hold. So, according to Buenos Aires Herald, the pair traveled to another region — Ushuaia, Tierra Del Fuego, where Governor Rios allowed them to be married. However, marriage is still technically illegal in Argentina at this time. (Buenos Aires Herald)
”We met at church where we both pray and we have been together for the last five months … I have never been interested in a woman.”
Steven Monjeza who married his gay male partner, Tiwonge Chimbalanga, in the African nation of Malawi, however their very public ceremony is not legal. Homosexuality, according to Reuters, is illegal and one can be sentenced up to 14 years in prison. In July of this year, the country’s legislature voted to ban gay marriage, too; but leadership opted not to put into that country’s constitution that is was a “God fearing nation.” It is reported that much of the African continent is being swept by homophobia, and anti-gay sentiment, much of which is fueled by conservative Anglicans preachers. Uganda has been under the microscope recently for its “kill the gays bill,” and neighboring Rwanda is also about to criminalize homosexuality and any pro-gay information with prison sentences of 5 to 10 years. US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, twice spoke out on the issue of LGBT persecution this month. (Reuters)
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