Arab GLBT
One of the biggest taboos in the Arab world is finally coming to the surface, thanks to the internet. GLBTs ( Gay,Lesbian,Bi/Transsexuals) have been denied existence till this day in Arabic countries. Whilst some of them are finding a breathing space outside, the Arabic world is still struggling to accept this important sector of the community.
Initially, I was very sceptic about the idea of GLBT. Maybe my upbringing had a factor in that early attitude towards people with other sexual orientations. But it was in England when I gave these people a chance, tried to understand how they think and actually read abit about the subject when I came to terms with GLBT. Before that, I was a homophobe who thought gays were simply sick. I would leave my thoughts about Bi and Trans for me as they were not very pleasant.
So one obstacle is gone, now I am quite comfortable dealing with non-heterosexuals when something happened. I never gave the idea of ' Arab GLBT ' a thought, I was not even curious. I probably made the connection of Arab = No GLBT so I foolishly thought they were not even there. I was asked once if they existed and I was like : yes of course. But deep inside I was not entirely sure. But when I met them face-to-face, that was the turning point.
It was one summer night, I was walking down through downtown Toronto when I heard some familiar Arabic music. I was happy and thought : Yea, finally found an Arabic nightclub, let's go in. So I paid the cover and went inside. What I saw left me gobsmacked. It was a gay arabic nightclub. I stood in the corner, ordered a drink and watched attentively. My friends just wanted to leave, they did not feel comfortable. They started to get worried with the inviting looks they were receiving from the dancing guys. They were bugging me on and on but I did not care. I was enjoying myself, it was this new unfamiliar world. It had the touch of mystery, it was something I never bothered to think about. It was like that my brain kept everything regarding Arab GLBT locked away in my unconscious. The flood of questions, the mystery vanishing and the joy of seeing the ' underworld ' were too much for me to leave early. All my senses were on alert, I wanted to get as much as possible from my new surrounding. The fact that I suddenly felt excited and happy did not go down too well with my friends who started to become really annoying. I had to finally buy them each a drink so they can get off my back for a second. Something that I still recall is how happy those people in the night club were ( except my friends ). Everyone was so free and so spontaneous and trying to enjoy their lives. They were all living the moment and relishing their new status in the society. They finally existed and no Arab leader, political or religious , can deny them their lives and their dreams.
One hell of an experience that will stay with me for a long long time.
More on the subject soon.
Any comments cirtiquing the style/content will be greatly appreciated
Initially, I was very sceptic about the idea of GLBT. Maybe my upbringing had a factor in that early attitude towards people with other sexual orientations. But it was in England when I gave these people a chance, tried to understand how they think and actually read abit about the subject when I came to terms with GLBT. Before that, I was a homophobe who thought gays were simply sick. I would leave my thoughts about Bi and Trans for me as they were not very pleasant.
So one obstacle is gone, now I am quite comfortable dealing with non-heterosexuals when something happened. I never gave the idea of ' Arab GLBT ' a thought, I was not even curious. I probably made the connection of Arab = No GLBT so I foolishly thought they were not even there. I was asked once if they existed and I was like : yes of course. But deep inside I was not entirely sure. But when I met them face-to-face, that was the turning point.
It was one summer night, I was walking down through downtown Toronto when I heard some familiar Arabic music. I was happy and thought : Yea, finally found an Arabic nightclub, let's go in. So I paid the cover and went inside. What I saw left me gobsmacked. It was a gay arabic nightclub. I stood in the corner, ordered a drink and watched attentively. My friends just wanted to leave, they did not feel comfortable. They started to get worried with the inviting looks they were receiving from the dancing guys. They were bugging me on and on but I did not care. I was enjoying myself, it was this new unfamiliar world. It had the touch of mystery, it was something I never bothered to think about. It was like that my brain kept everything regarding Arab GLBT locked away in my unconscious. The flood of questions, the mystery vanishing and the joy of seeing the ' underworld ' were too much for me to leave early. All my senses were on alert, I wanted to get as much as possible from my new surrounding. The fact that I suddenly felt excited and happy did not go down too well with my friends who started to become really annoying. I had to finally buy them each a drink so they can get off my back for a second. Something that I still recall is how happy those people in the night club were ( except my friends ). Everyone was so free and so spontaneous and trying to enjoy their lives. They were all living the moment and relishing their new status in the society. They finally existed and no Arab leader, political or religious , can deny them their lives and their dreams.
One hell of an experience that will stay with me for a long long time.
More on the subject soon.
Any comments cirtiquing the style/content will be greatly appreciated
posted by zmanutdz at 11:34 AM
8 Comments:
it is amazing how homosexuality is still alive in communities where it is a big huge taboo, and a costly one.
but even when it comes to homosexuality, it is funny how men have the freedom still to have their own gay bar lol ...dont wana be a feminist in here, just a thought!
and about the style, pretty honest on what is reflecting, so pretty awesome in my book :)
very interesting topics you deal with... and the way you present your ideas just makes the reader want to continue reading....
as for Arab GLBT I am probably too closed minded to comment fairly on the issue but yah 'live and let live' seems to be working out well in North America so why shouldnt it be the same in the Arab world
I have come to a presumption that in many countries in the Middle East, homosexuality is the other alternative for not having any sexual experience for either gender due to social norms. But that only accounts for the bisexuals. As for the rest, they're very much burried alive in ther anonymity and burried alive if known. I have been intending to write about that for sometime now. I might all the same still do it.
Arabs are pretty hypocritical, Macdude. "Live and let live" is against their principles.
By the by, wasn't it the Omani Sultan that had his Foreign Minister as a lover-boy back in time?
A very nice presentation ...
keep on the good work ..
as i usually say when you forbid hetrosexual relations you should expect homosexual ones .. it's just in the System .. coz in the end the equation should equal zero .
by the way let's link blogs
I was waiting for you to mentionthis.
He's an indcredible writer, and one of Britain's best journalists on Arab issues.
Sasa, the Syria News Wire.
You are doing just fine! Keep up up the good work.
Although, I'm not a Man. Utd. nor England Soccer team fan!
In fact, I support L'azzurri and Lazio di Roma ;)
Sasa: Thanks for introducing the book, I recognise the cover photo from a number of online places but never knew where it came from. It will be an interesting read but would love to read it from an Arabic perspective.
Caesar, nice to know that you like ' football ' as well. Good luck for Azzuri and lazio once the league restarts again.
the problem is zmanutdz is that most of the 'good looking' men seem to be gay!
its not fair on us poor ladies who r left with the 'not bad looking' ones :p
nah im kidding...lol
A well written piece :)
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