McConnell in middle of gay rights row in Malawi

Posted on September 28, 2008
Filed Under Gay News Blog

JACK MCCONNELL has found himself stuck in the middle of an ugly homophobic spat over gay rights in Malawi just months before he takes up his new post as the British High Commissioner of the impoverished African nation.

On one-side are the liberal gay rights group who believe McConnell will help them bring about an end to the criminal ban on gay relationships in Malawi, and on the other are the homophobic politicians who say the former Labour First Minister, who is due to take up his post in the new year, isn’t welcome in the country, and even he should be stripped of his role as High Commissioner.

Gay rights campaigners have adopted the Motherwell and Wishaw MSP as their champion as a battle to overturn the legal ban on homosexuality.

McConnell in middle of gay rights row in Malawi
Sunday Herald, UK