Steven Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga Trans groups across the globe are expressing anger and frustration at the coverage of the Tiwonge Chimbalanga and Steven Monjeza case in Malawi. The couple has been released from prison after being pardoned by the Malawian president on charges of 'gross indecency and unnatural acts', which were laid after they held an engagement ceremony. They were sentenced to 14 years hard labour before receiving the pardon. While welcoming the pardon, trans bloggers and groups say an important part of the story has been ignored – Tiwonge Chimbalanga's identity. They say Chimbalanga identifies as a woman, so the descriptions of the pair as 'gay men' or a 'gay couple' are not correct. The New York Times' reporter in Malawi Barry Bearak wrote in February "Tiwonge Chimbalanga looked like a man but said he was a woman. He helped with the cooking and dressed in feminine wraparound skirts." Chimbalanga is reported in the same article as stating in a court hearing "I have male genitals, but inside I am a complete woman. Maybe I cannot give birth to a child, but I menstruate every month - or most months - and I can do any household chores a woman can do." Many trans bloggers claim the mainstream media is notorious for misgendering trans people. In the International Women's Health Coalition blog Akimbo, Audacia Ray says when trans women are written about, they are described as being "men dressed as women" and referred to persistently as "he." "This is a multilayered issue: clearly, trans and gay rights activists within Africa are identifying Tiwonge as a trans woman and see her conviction as transphobic state violence and injustice. However, mainstream international press and gay rights groups are co-opting the story to fit into their concept of the fight for marriage equality. The resulting coverage both silences trans women and ignores the voices and identities of Africans." Gender Dynamix also released a media statement quoting Ian Swartz from the Open Society Institute of Southern Africa, who had visited the couple in prison, as saying Chimbalanga identifies as a woman. "Tiwonge so clearly identifies as a woman and she has expressed her identity as such more often than not. I think if she knew the word Transgender she would come home to a world of understanding of herself." Gender Dynamix says a local activist visited Chimbalanga and was told: "I am just a woman who loves my man. I'd rather remain in prison than to be released into a world where I am kept away from Steven." When LA-based journalist Karen Ocamb was made aware of the concerns through her blog LGBT POV, she contacted UK rights gay human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell to see if he could clarify the situation. He replied last week with the following: "Tiwonge has not stated clearly to my contacts in Malawi how he/she wants to be referred to." "I have arranged Malawian prison visitors for the last four months. I have got them to ask Tiwonge about his/her gender identity but the answers are unclear. I will get them to keep asking." "It would be wrong to refer to Tiwonge as 'she' and ‘transgender' unless we have express instructions / permission to do so from Tiwonge." Chimbalanga and Monjeza have remained out of the public eye since their release on late Saturday night Malawi time. AP reports activists were searching for a safe house for the pair, due to fears they would be attacked. They have been warned by authorities they could be re-arrested if they continue their relationship.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Monday, 31st May 2010 - 9:16am