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LGBTI Community Decry Chakwera's Silence on Same Sex Marriages

LGBTI members LGBTI members

President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera is still skeptical to make a pronouncement on his stand regarding same-sex marriages amid growing concerns from the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community who claim his silence is putting their lives at risk.

A member of the LGBTI community in Salima Ishmael Phiri has told us government needs to accept that they exist and allow them easy access to reproductive health services in public facilities alleging they top the list of HIV and AIDS and other STI cases.

"Life is unbearable as we can not freely access health services in public facilities because we are not recognized hence stigmatized," said Phiri.

He says since he was young now in his 20s has been feeling like a female and attracted to fellow men a thing he claims has no control over.

A lesbians couple in Lilongwe area 25 shares the same story saying those in authority should speak out and allow them to live freely in society by condemning stigma.

"This is who we are and we can't change, it is not like we woke up one day and decide on our sexual orientation, it is natural," one member told Zodiak online.

LGBTI rights activist Chifundo Time says it is high time president Chakwera made his pronouncement on the matter as the silence on the same is an infringement of their rights.

"Access to health services including reproductive health facilities is a right, the leadership must accept this, and the president should come out and say something on the matter, otherwise things are not okay," said Time.

Meanwhile, the director of communication at state house Sean Kampondeni says the president would not want to dictate what should be done hence maintains the call for debate on the matter.

"The president does not want to impose on Malawians what he feels, the citizens must debate this issue thoroughly which will inform the legislature to look into the legal framework about these issues and see if there is need for a review of laws," Kampondeni said.

According to Malawi Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights Alliance, men having sex with men are at high risk of contracting HIV and other sexually transmitted infections but have little access to information and access to Reproductive Health Services.

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Last modified on Friday, 17/09/2021

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