This couple’s bravery is beyond any words that I have, so I will quote Tiwonge. Upon learning of his sentence to 14 years of hard labor for wanting to marry his lover, he had this to say:
I love Steven so much. If people or the world cannot give me the chance and freedom to continue living with him as my lover, then I am better off to die here in prison. Freedom without him is useless and meaningless.LGBTs in Africa face a struggle that will require enormous bravery and sacrifice from many Tiwonges and Stevens. Gains made in South Africa must give African LGBTs hope, especially when Jacob Zuma, South Africa’s president, and South Africa’s Anglican bishops speak out on their behalf. Yet the task is daunting. Whenever a closet door cracks open just a little, it is met with overwhelming force that tries to slam it shut before the door becomes too difficult to close. I think that is what we are seeing in Malawi and Uganda and other parts of Africa right now. Even in relatively progressive South Africa, life can be brutally dangerous, as evidenced by reports of widespread “corrective” rape.
International pressure helps. The results we have seen from the mobilizations for Steven and Tiwonge and against the heinous law in Uganda have been encouraging.
While we focus on trying to make advances here in the U.S., we would do well to remember that our struggle is part of a much larger one that is taking place from Malawi to Moscow to Mexico City to Minsk to Mumbai and to Montego Bay. Thanks to citizen journalists the world over, this revolution is being televised on youtube and facebook. We have the ability to circumvent established news channels, which makes it difficult for repressive governments to suppress information. Moscow Pride was organized via flashmob. Videos of arrests in Minsk were distributed instantaneously throughout the world via facebook. Steven and Tiwonge were freed in part because of international pressure generated from the netroots up.
Only ten years ago, few of us would have learned about a couple like Steven and Tiwonge. Their courage is humbling and inspiring. Here are a few links to LGBT sites with an international focus for those of you who want to become more aware of international developments:
Global Gayz
Pink News
Peter Tatchell
