The bigger story is the arrest of engaged couple Tiwonge Chimbalanga and Steven Monjeza, who engaged in gross public indecency, according to Malawian prosecutors, who will try their case Jan. 15. But there are rumblings that this sliver-sized East African nation is building momentum for an even wider crackdown on queers. So far, that evidence arrives with Monday’s arrest of an “administrator from the Centre for the Development of People (CEDEP), which works to defend the welfare of marginalized communities, including prisoners, sex workers, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people,” reports Queer Today.
The staffer was detained on charges that CEDEP’s documents and guidebooks promoting safe sex are pornographic, and thus banned propaganda. Now British activist Peter Tatchell of Outrage is getting involved, claiming the arrest is a retaliation for CEDEP supporting Chimbalanga and Monjeza, and who fears CEDEP’s executive director Gift Trapence may now be in danger of arrest.
This could arguably be an isolated incident, tied directly to the arrest of the engaged couple. Or it’s just one public example of Malawian authorities using state power to silence LGBT supporters. You pick.
Caroline Somanje
My name is Caroline Somanje, a journalist working for Nation Publications Limited. I took the gay couple picture you have used here in Malawi and wondered how you obtained it and went further to use without my permission. Explanation requried urgently.
Yet Another
Let me explain.
Queerty only cares about gay rights, not copyrights.
jason
Where oh where is Madonna in all this? You know, she of the crappy dance music who exploited dumb gay men, made her millions, and is now adopting kids from Malawi.
One wonders why dear Madge hasn’t spoken out against the harsh treatment of the gay couple. Yoo hoo, can you hear me, Madge? Might it jeopardize your chances of adopting more kids should you speak out? Are you putting your little coterie before the lives of these persecuted gay men? Enquiring minds wish to know, Madge.
Cassandra
Caroline
Feeling ashamed of your work?
Did you get a model release from Chimbalanga and Monjeza? Do you have permission to profit from a photo of them?
jeffree
@Cassandra: Thanks for asking those questions. I was thinking along similar path but could not think of the correct terminology.
i hope CEDEP will let us know if there is any way 2 support their cause. Malawi surely must have a representative in DC & Canada & the UK, and if it might help to contact them, I hope we & the lgb media will be notified of who to contact.
Yet Another
@Cassandra:
Don’t be ridiculous. If she’s the photographer none of that really matters to whether or not Queerty has usage rights. And depending on where are how the photo was taken, she wouldn’t need release forms from news subjects in public or if she was invited.
Unless you have the explanation she’s asking for, you really have no response to her question.
Cassandra
Yet another
It is a matter of principle. If Caroline is the photographer, she is trying to assert control over something of hers, but if she didn’t get permission from Chimbalanga and Monjeza to take their photo and sell it to newspapers, she is exploiting them just as she feels her work is being exploited.
Her exploitation may be legal in her country, but it is still immoral. Her exploitative photo puts these men in even greater danger, if they are ever released from custody.
Dismissing my concerns as ridiculous indicates that you have no principles of your own.
Yet Another
@Cassandra:
No. What it does is indicate my finding of your post ridiculous.
For instance, you calling the photo immoral. If she’s a journalist, her work is of the greatest moral import. Journalist serve the need of reporting the news. And had she and others not taken the photo, Chimbalanga and Monjeza might not be getting the attention and international they are.
Meanwhile, you characterize her work as exploitative without fairly assessing whether or not Queerty was exploiting the photograph or further exploiting Chimbalanga and Monjeza as well (since the photo is immoral after all.) Is Queerty not putting “in even greater danger, if they are ever released from custody,” as you say she is?
I’ll concede it’s a matter of perspective, but not one of principle in the slightest.
Caroline Somanje
I am not ashamed of my work as some of the commentators are suggesting. Indeed I am a journalist whose job is to report an event. Permission was fully granted by the couple who even gave me an interview. What they were ignorant of probably was the repercussions of their move. Surely, I cannot be blamed for their arrest not be judged for exploiting them. The so called Queer might as well shoulder the blame for exploitation but at lest I got full consent. I still would want an explanation for Queer on the usage of the photos. My work is being exploited. Period. Do not find scapegoats by pushing hat blame on me.
sugar
@casandra
your comments are indeed ridiculous, with no basis whatsoever, i suggest you zip it and let the responsible people handle the matter. its non of your BIZ-WAX!!!!!! NOW that she asked permission from Tiwonge and her/HIS FRIEND..what are you going to do???