The story is bad enough: two gay men are facing a trial in Malawi for the simple act of engaging in homosexual acts. “Homosexual acts carry a maximum prison sentence of 14 years.”

What bugged me most wasn’t the story, though. I suppose I’ve become somewhat numb to the plight of gays in some parts of the world; not that I accept it or think that it’s in any way right, but that I know how the story goes and I’m no longer shocked.

What bugged me most was the picture. There are jeering, mocking faces surrounding the two gay men and I realize that I can’t imagine ever doing anything that would expose me to so much public ridicule or shame--and they are experiencing it for nothing more than living openly as gay men.

Sad, sad story.