Reactions to the conviction of gay Malawi couple Steven Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga, who were sentenced to 14 years in prison with hard labor for "gross indecency" and "unnatural acts" for having an engagement ceremony in late December, came today from Madonna and the White House.
Madonna, who many have been calling on throughout this human rights travesty to make a statement, and who is building a school and has adopted two children from Malawi, said:
"I am shocked and saddened by the decision made today by the Malawian court, which sentenced two innocent men to prison. As a matter of principle, I believe in equal rights for all people, no matter what their gender, race, color, religion, or sexual orientation. Today, Malawi took a giant step backward. The world is filled with pain and suffering; therefore, we must support our basic human right to love and be loved. I call upon the progressive men and women of Malawi—and around the world—to challenge this decision in the name of human dignity and equal rights for all."
And the White House released a statement through Press Secretary Robert Gibbs:
"The United States strongly condemns the conviction and harsh sentencing of Steven Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga in Malawi. The criminalization of sexual orientation and gender identity is unconscionable, and this case mars the human rights record of Malawi. We urge Malawi and all countries to stop using sexual orientation or gender identity as the basis for arrest, detention, or execution."
It used to be that Christmas at the White House dazzled visitors with the glitter of thousands of fairy lights. But not this year. Not in this economy and not with this practical-minded First Lady.
On Wednesday, Michelle Obama debuted a White House whose decked halls were decidedly understated. Where the Bushes and Clintons previously put up a dozen Christmas trees in the mansion's Foyer and Cross Hall alone, there are just seven on the entire State floor this year. The biggest of them – the 18½ foot Douglas fir in the Blue Room – is decorated with recycled ornaments that Mrs. Obama's team dug out of the warehouse where old White House decorations are stored.
"We took about 800 ornaments left over from previous administrations, we sent them to 60 local community groups throughout the country, and asked them to decorate them to pay tribute to a favorite local landmark and then send them back to us for display here at the White House," said Mrs. Obama.
Decorating in woodland colors of brown, gold, claret and cinnamon, Mrs. Obama chose as her theme, "Reflect. Rejoice. Renew." Aides said the toned-down décor was both a nod to the tough economic times and Mrs. Obama's interest in environmentalism. (The traditional White House gingerbread house features a miniature kitchen garden like the one Mrs. Obama had dug on the South Lawn.)
"For the Obama family, Christmas and the New Year has always been a time to reflect on our many blessings, to rejoice in the pleasure of spending time with our family and our friends, and to renew our commitment to one another and to the causes that we believe in," the First Lady said.
The first of 17 White House holiday parties was held Tuesday night, for the 92 volunteers who strung lights and hung ornaments. Mrs. Obama herself, who teased the volunteers about making a lot of partying noise, only popped down for a minute.
"She said the girls were upstairs doing homework and she couldn’t stay," said volunteer Kim Fawley, a schoolteacher from Broadway, Virginia.
Not with all that Secret Service around, though Ashton Kutcher, getting formal with Demi Moore at the White House Correspondents' Dinner on Saturday night in Washington, mused on his Twitter page: "I'm trying to figure out why anyone would let me sit this close to the president".
The Easter Bunny couldn't hold a candle to Malia Obama at this year's White House Easter Egg Roll. When the microphone at Monday's event malfunctioned, the elder First Daughter remedied the situation.
"I'd like to introduce Malia, my technical advisor,' " joked her father, President Obama. Then came the First Lady's warm welcome and rundown of the day's outdoor events, innocently interrupted by an inquiry from daughter Sasha, 7: "Tennis too?"
While there would be no game, there was Fergie – who delivered a memorable version of the national anthem, prompting a huge hug from the president.
What followed was an all-day outdoor concert with the theme, "Let's Go Play." Activities included yoga, soccer, break-dancing, health-conscious cooking and the traditional Easter Egg Roll. The president, alongside Sasha and Malia, kicked off the first round with a whistle and a roar, "Is everybody ready?"
Then, the First Family dispersed, with Mr. Obama going to work as his girls rushed to the front row of the Fergie show. Mrs. Obama danced with her mother, Marian Robinson, and her starstruck daughters, who managed to sing nearly every word to "Big Girls Don't Cry" and "Glamorous. Fergie's new husband, Josh Duhamel, scoped the scene in a dapper suit and sunglasses.
Fergie, 34, told People exclusively afterwards, "The whole Obama family is so down to earth. My family was with me and had the honor of getting to chat with them, as well. It was a special moment in time as I got to see Michelle, Malia, and Sasha dancing and singing with me to my songs!"
Oscar-winning actor Sean Penn has said that his film Milk is "one of the steps forward" in the battle for gay marriage.
Mr Penn won the Academy Award for his portrayal of Harvey Milk, the first openly-gay man elected to public office in the United States.
Mr Milk was assassinated less than a year after his election to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1977.
During his acceptance speech at last week's ceremony Mr Penn spoke about gay marriage.
In November voters in California approved a ballot measure denying gay and lesbian couples the right to marry.
Proposition 8 was in response to a court ruling that gay marriage was legal. The validity of Prop 8 is being challenged in the state Supreme Court.
Between June and November 18,000 same-sex couples got married in California.
Mr Penn said he hoped Milk would change attitudes towards same-sex marriage.
Now he has revealed he wants to take his film to the country's President. "Eventually we are hoping for a White House screening," he said. "I think this film will be one of the steps forward … but I think things are going to go forward with or without it."
"I was once asked to tell the difference between luxury and necessity for a human being. The right to equality for all, including homosexuals, is of course a necessity. That's why this right will become a reality and I think in its own way this film will be part of that."
"The need for tolerance, equality and so on is on the move, and will go on."
President Obama supports civil unions but not same-sex marriage.
On Wednesday the California Supreme Court will hear arguments about the validity of Prop 8.
Reactions to the conviction of gay Malawi couple Steven Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga, who were sentenced to 14 years in prison with hard labor for "gross indecency" and "unnatural acts" for having an engagement ceremony in late December, came today from Madonna and the White House.
