The gay voice

At one point, religion ruled and it felt like all that big books state and proclaim was all there was and is to believe and live by. Today, however, politics rule in the same manner, and while religion mainly promotes the most powerful existence of an unseen figure, politics shove down the throats of citizens the rules and values accommodating only a certain portion of the lot residing in this open space of the earth.

Sometimes I find myself wondering if the ‘God’ I call to as a Christian is the politics. I mean, my god works in a very strict manner, while superiors in politics make changes in an instant and break the same rules they lay down for ‘everyone’.

Undeserved victory

The inspiration for my profoundness –in case one was wondering- hails from news feeds that carry headlines proclaiming the victory of Malawi government over the issue of two Malawian men; Tiwonge Chimbalanga and Steven Monjeza who happen to be gay.

Despite living in a narrow minded state where being gay is regarded as immoral, the couple went ahead and held their engagement ceremony. Consequently, the two have been found guilty of unnatural acts and gross indecency. This comes after a process of not only being humiliated but disrespected and undermined by their country’s laws.

According to media waves, Tiwonge and Steven face the possibility of being jailed for more than 10 years. However, a magistrate is expected to sentence these guys on today.

The irony of this situation is that, both these men will be kept within walls where sodomy uncontrollably occurs. This applies not only to prisons in Malawi but in other countries as well. This means that, this two will have sex –though not with each other- but with other men imprisoned with them. Unfortunately, having sex in jail might be a deed that’s not so consensual in their case.

Also, it’s amazing how Malawian President Bingu wa Mutharika called on religious leaders in his country to help him condemn homosexuality. Daily Nation quoted him as saying, “(homosexuality) is evil and bad before the eyes of God”.  Nonetheless, the same god he uses to perpetuate his personal judgment is believed to have stated in the bible that He is the only one with the right to judge and not anyone else. Clearly, Mutharika reads a Koran.

Sympathy

Unfortunately, there is absolutely nothing I can do to help or simply show that I feel the pain Tiwonge and Steven. What has happened instead is that, I have grown scared. I am scared of what the situation will be like now right here is South Africa.

I am well aware of how gay friendly Cape Town is and I also know that in 2007 a law that permits people of the same sex to get married was passed. However, that hasn’t stopped the ignorant few South Africans from not only teasing gay people but also physically hurting them.

With that I ask, how are we different then from a country that is totally against gay people? How often should we preach that homosexuality is not a choice? Who in fact can actually stand up and help to stop this sort of discrimination? If it’s not my president sharing on how he would beat up a gay man back in his youth years, our folks disown us while society tears us apart with insults.

To me it seems, only gay people will be able to stand against the issue, but the question still stands that will we ever win? If yes, when will we win? Clearly not today. Not next week or this year for that matter. This is a very long journey, I believe. One that makes me feel that gay people are fighting a losing battle.

Happy read!

Not so holly

As if we don’t have much to deal with when it comes to the issue of HIV and Aids, the leader of Ncandweni Gospel Christ Ambassadors, Timothy Myeni allegedly made a controversial and offensive remark about people living with HIV and Aids.

Apparently, Myeni insulted people with the virus by saying they should be branded on the buttocks to stop the spread of the disease.

Taking offence on this, the National Association of People Living with HIV and Aids (Napwa) wrote a letter to the SAMAs organisers, urging them to make sure that Myeni does not attend the event, as more than 300 Napwa members will be attending the event.

Failing to do so, Napwa threatened to make things ugly if Myeni attends the event or even wins an award. Consequently, he did not pitch.

Accentuating their message, Napwa also wants radio stations to stop playing and promoting Ncandweni’s music.

I find it very hard to understand as to why -a gospel singer nogal- would say such a thing. In my mind, this guy clearly thinks that, for one to get infected one has to be sleeping around. What a stereotype. Of course, now we wait to hear if he really made this remark, or it is just unfound speculations.

He better not have said that, or else I will make sure that in as much as I do not like their music, I would make it my mission to let people know what he said. That way, their reputation will be damaged, just as he had juts did to people living with the disease.

The last thing we want is people making this remark, simply because a leader of one of the popular gospel groups for the black market in SA said it. It seems to me that some people really need to be cultured and schooled. Especially our Christian believers.

Happy read!

Too bad, love is...

I’m pretty sure it has reached the stage of irritation for my colleague –who sits next to me- that I like Alicia Keys’ Love is blind. At least, I use my other colleague’s headphones, so it can’t be that bad.

Keys’ The element of freedom has been out for quite some time now, but I only heard this song for the first time, two weeks ago. Thank God, I am not surrounded by anyone who’s a big fan. Otherwise, I would have been a disgrace.

What I like about the song is the mere fact that Alicia Keys poises a nonchalant feeling through her lyrics citing being blinded by love. Being a sucker for love myself, I kind of relate to the song. Well, especially because when it comes to me loving someone, it takes a hundred blows for me to listen to what people say about my partner. Otherwise, I tend to wave like Khanyisile Mbau when being taken for a ride in one of those lovers fools vehicles. By that, I mean I have been made a fool by the people I loved so much, whom I strongly believed and somehow felt that they loved me back.

Such experiences might mean a lot of things to a person, but to me they certainly DO NOT mean giving up on love or on finding that one person who will be mine. Maybe my trust engine might be tempered a bit, but not entirely.

Inevitably, I will possibly get hurt again; once or maybe twice, but I am willing to go through that to find my love. Like John Legend puts it, you love, you love, you love, though you’ve been burnt, you still return. That’s me.

Besides being hurt or heart-broken, I do have some good moments with my people.

Happy read!