Steven Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga, Malawi's "first openly gay couple," were sentenced to fourteen years in prison on counts of gross indecency and "having sex against the order of nature."

Judge Nyakwawa Usiwa-Usiwa gave this loving, committed couple a "scaring sentence" to send a message of intolerance and intimidate other LGBT Africans.

Monjeza and Chimalanga say they have been beaten and taunted while imprisoned, and the court says they refused the couple bail "for their own good." This couple should not be punished for loving one another. Pardoning them would free two innocent people as well as help spread LGBT acceptance throughout Africa, a continent with a tragic history of intolerance and persecution of LGBT people.

Tell Secretary Hillary Clinton to encourage the Malawian President, Bingu wa Mutharika, to pardon this couple and fight LGBT hate.