A Malawian transgender woman and her partner  were arrested and given 14 years in prison for trying to marry each other. The sentence by the judge further says that the couple will be a part of hard labour.

Gay Couple Denied Marriage. Twitpic from @Timelly.

The couple was arrested back in December when they held a engagement party for themselves. In court, the judge said he wanted to protect the public from “people like you”. This situation and statement has caused people across the world to fight back.

The general message on twitter is “I signed the “STOP THE TRIAL AGAINST THE MALAWIAN GAYCOUPLE” petition!”

The U.S. government and state department believe that this decision by the court in Malawi is a set back from achieving human rights.

The judge said, “We are sitting here to represent the Malawi society, which I do not believe is ready at this point in time to see its sons getting married to other sons or conducting engagement ceremonies.”

Other twitter users have voiced their opinion as well:

1. 
   amnesty Absolutely unacceptable! Gay Malawian couple is sentenced to 14 years in prison. http://ow.ly/1NFK3 #lgbt #malawi 20 May 2010 from HootSuite
2. 
   danistroom I feel really sorry for these guys. Love and life are tough enough as is. But 14 years in prison? http://ow.ly/1NLqD #wrong 20 May 2010 from HootSuite
3. 
   Penseuse Malawian gay couple jailed for 14 years http://ht.ly/1NNHC [Guardian] Malawi, please join Uganda at the back of the class. 20 May 2010 from HootSuite
4. 
   GayRadioUK Please can I ask as many of you as possible to retweet http://www.jfmgc.co.uk Justice for Malawian Gay Couple, something has to be done. 20 May 2010 from web
5. 
   Jalapeno22 RT @NewserCrime: Malawian Gay Couple Get 14 Years in Jail http://newser.me/bP1fsx – this makes me so sad, But anger is my emotion. Horrific 20 May 2010 from Tweeterena

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People in Malawi and across the country are protesting the decision by the court.