Gays Aren't People?

I hate it when people are treated as something less because of who they are. Stories like this really piss me off:

A judge in Malawi has imposed a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison with hard labour on a gay couple convicted of gross indecency and unnatural acts.

Unbelievable:

The case has sparked international condemnation and a debate about homosexuality in the country.

The British government, Malawi's largest donor, expressed its "dismay" at the sentences, but has not withdrawn aid.

The US state department, meanwhile, said the case was "a step backwards in the protection of human rights in Malawi".

Here's what this judge had to say:

Handing down sentence in the commercial capital, Blantyre, Judge Nyakwawa Usiwa-Usiwa told the pair: "I will give you a scaring sentence so that the public be protected from people like you, so that we are not tempted to emulate this horrendous example."

"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," said the judge.

And outside the courtroom:

There were shouts of "You got what you deserve!" and "Fourteen years is not enough, they should get 50!"

I really have nothing to say. I'm not dismayed. It's beyond that. Somethings that happen on a day to day basis give you hope. Others, like this, make you shake your head, bury your head in your hands, and reflect about what is it about society that perpetuates these outlooks. In much of the western world, I believe we are moving beyond biases against race, creed, sexual orientation, or, at the very least, making a concerted effort to make progress. We must not leave our other brothers behind.