Peaceful protest next Monday in support of jailed Malawian same-sex couple

Protesters will gather in Central London on Monday 22 March 2010, in a rally against the arrest, trial and imprisonment of Malawian same-sex couple, Steven Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga.

I will be present at the planned rally in Central London against the arrest, trial and imprisonment of this Malawian same-sex couple. The protests will take place as from 12.30pm outside the Commonwealth Secretariat's head office, Marlborough House, Pall Mall. The timing is planned to coincide with the verdict in Stephen and Tiwonge's trial.

Support Amnesty's Malawi campaign

Fax and post letters to the Malawi government
Call for release of Steven Monjeza & Tiwonge Chimbalanga

London, UK - 11 March 2010

OutRage! is backing Amnesty International's appeal for letters of protest to the Malawian government over the arrest and trial of Steven Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga. They face up to 14 years jail on charges of homosexuality. The verdict in their trial is expected on Monday 22 March.

See this sample letter, and the postal address and fax number of the Malawian President and Attorney General.

Amnesty International has adopted the two men as Prisoners of Conscience and is campaigning for their release.

"OutRage! is supporting Amnesty's campaign. If enough people send letters of protest, it

might help secure an acquittal or a less harsh sentence. Even if Tiwonge and Steven are convicted, they could win a successful appeal and be freed eventually," said Peter Tatchell of OutRage!

"From their prison cells, both men have urged international pressure for their release. They need lots of support and solidarity in the run-up to the trial result. Please take time to support Amnesty's letter-writing campaign," he said.

Amnesty International UK Director, Kate Allen, added:

"Steven Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga have committed no criminal offence and we adopted them as prisoners of conscience after their arrest at the end of December. It is vital that as many people as possible join us in writing to the Malawi authorities calling on them to release the two men and for them to investigate their treatment in custody."

See this Amnesty International briefing on the case: Here

Auto-erotic Asphyxia

I woke up today to the news that one of my favourite TV presenters died yesterday. At first the reports were that the circumstances of the death of Kristian Digby were unexplained. But as the day wore on the truth gradually filtered down. It is reported in some newspapers that he died when a solo-sex act went wrong. Auto-erotic asphyxia was mentioned and although I'd heard of it before, I thought to look a little deeper into this behaviour, which it is said also caused the accidental death of a few other notables, David Carradine and Michael Hutchence among them.

Auto-erotic asphyxia or Hypoxyphilia is a paraphilia, which means that just like paedophilia or necrophilia or any such other, it meets the criteria for a disorder. It is said to be a sub-category of sexual masochism. According to forensic psychiatrist Professor Stephen J. Hucker of the University of Toronto, "Hypoxyphilia has been known to medical science for nearly a hundred years, and to others perhaps since antiquity, but most of what we know about it has come from the study of cases in which a mishap has occurred and the individual has died as a result of, or during, the practice. Living practitioners tend not to present clinically or to make their behaviours widely known and hence detailed insight into the paraphilia is not widely available in the literature."

The carotid arteries (on either side of the neck) carry oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the brain. When these arteries are compressed, as in strangulation or hanging, the sudden loss of oxygen to the brain and the accumulation of carbon dioxide can increase feelings of giddiness, lightheadness and pleasure, all of which will heighten masturbatory sensations. When the brain is deprived of oxygen, it induces a lucid, semi hallucinogenic state called hypoxia. Combined with orgasm the rush is said to be no less powerful than cocaine and highly addictive. (Wikipedia)

Historically auto-erotic asphyxiation has been used as a treatment for erectile dysfunction. It has been suggested that the idea for this first came from subjects who were executed by hanging. Observers at public hangings noted male victims developed an erection, sometimes remaining after death (death erection), and occasionally ejaculated when being hanged.

Nearly all the reported cases of death from auto-erotic asphyxia have been males and most are under forty years old at the time of death. The activity is usually solitary and the individual usually chooses a private or secluded place. Kristian Digby was only 32 and he was openly gay, which is perhaps one of the reasons why this has affected me so. May his soul rest in peace.