Go East! Glad to be gay?

 

A leader of the Palestine based Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade has claimed that Israel failed to defeat Hizbullah because its army is "full of gay soldiers". The Israeli army has allowed gays to take part in all aspects of military life since 1993. And Hamas' leader in Gaza, Dr Mahmoud Zahar has gone further, condemning the rights that all gays have in Israel saying "Are these the laws for which the Palestinian street is waiting? For us to give rights to homosexuals and to lesbians, a minority of perverts and the mentally and morally sick?â€

 

But not all his religious brethren agree. In Saudi Arabia, a gay wedding last weekend saw over 400 guests celebrating, until police sadly broke up the party and detained 20 guests for "emulating women".

 

What a nutjob that terrorist is, only a small minority of gays are the camp limp wristed Julian Clary types many gays I know could more than handle themselves in a fist fight etc, the guy is talking out of his arse

What a nutjob that terrorist is, only a small minority of gays are the camp limp wristed Julian Clary types many gays I know could more than handle themselves in a fist fight etc, the guy is talking out of his arse

 

You're absolutely right but it's a bit too easy to just pass the guy off as a crazed individual. The bigger question is why are these attitudes widespread in the Middle East?

 

I will never forget the picture of the 2 young men being hung in Tehran, in front of a cheering crowd, no less. Makes me ill just thinking about it.

Since I’m bored at work maybe I’ll try to answer my own question.

 

I don’t think it’s Islam, even if the clerics say so. I think it’s entirely social. First of all, I have many Muslim friends here in the States who are beyond “tolerant†but actually accepting. And they’re not simply non-practicing Muslims – several of them still don’t drink and keep the much regimented prayer schedule. But they don’t believe being gay is sinful. I think it’s because they grew up in a free, tolerant society. I also know most of them from university so they’re educated and science-minded.

 

The other reason is that bigotry and homophobia is obviously not restricted to Muslim countries. It’s prevalent in Eastern Europe (Orthodox), the southern US (Evangelical), and in Africa (many Christian denominations). I haven’t studied Hinduism extensively but I doubt it influences the widespread homophobia in India, etc. etc. etc.