The conviction of a gay couple in Malawi on May 20, 2010 raises serious questions about issues of cultural rights, individual rights, community rights, and the rule of law. Individuals live in communities and are bound by the norms, rules, and regulations of their customs, traditions, and culture. In terms of natural rights, however, individuals have the freedom of choice to live as they please, as long as their actions do not infringe on the rights of others. The problem arises when community rights clash with individual rights, and the community denies individuals the exercise of their freedom of choice. The handing down of a 14-year prison sentence, with hard labor, by a Magistrate’s Court to a gay couple convicted for gross public indecency in the Republic of Malawi is a case in point. This sentence not only contravenes the rights of the individual in terms of natural justice but also violates the Constitution of Malawi which outlaws discrimination of any kind and advocates equality. This article maintains that coexistence and harmony among individuals in plural societies can be achieved only through tolerance, which is an essential condition for liberty and democracy.
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