Hi! I found your blog disturbing and interesting. I am a college student in Massuchusetts and I am in a class trying to collect information on the risks of AIDS in the Middle East. There is a real lack of information about the subject (partially because of the stigma surrounding the subject.) Do you think you would mind talking to me about what you think about this issue? The perspective of our paper is going to be based on the views of people between 15-25 years old. Thanks!

Is there anything we can do to push the US government to help persecuted gays from Iraq? The US gave this country a civil war and is supposed to be helping to make Iraq “a free democracy” — any way we can organize to bring this issue to light? I am sickened by this… Homophobia is a true sickness… with all the problems in Iraq, still people are going out of their way to persecute people for their personal lives?

Liora, I completely agree with you. I would add by noting that certain people are going around claiming that God is angry at homosexuals, and that is why he is punishing the country. It’s a horrifically mindless argument, but more and more people are buying it, and that’s pretty scary. You hear of things like honour killings committed against homosexuals, even in places like Iraq where one would think that they already have more than enough problems to deal with.

Samantha, that’s a tricky one! I will try to search our databases on AIDS in the Middle East. I remember reading articles about the risks of AIDS getting higher in Bahrain, and how hundreds of people are apparently dying from it annually. I’d love to exchange some research material with you, since it’s an issue that not many people care to talk about.

I just read this article on Arab News, relevant to the topic at hand.

I find it absurd that in our cultures, this is considered a mental disorder of some sort, and if women or men choose to be gay they must be sent to a specialist for treatment. I am entirely against this stupid mentality.

British LGBT group OutRage! are providing a channel for money to Iraqi LGBT groups.

See this post for more: http://hurryupharry.bloghouse.net/archives/2006/12/06/iraqi_police_cover_for_death_squads.php

Have any Iraqi homosexuals tried for asylum in the US? A recent court case set the precedent when a Mexican man was granted asylum for being too gay for macho Mexico. As to Iraq or any Muslim country tolerating homosexuality you may have to wait a long time before that happens.

Rancher, it’s not that easy. It’s really hard for the average civilian to just get up and leave, otherwise the majority would have already done so. It’s not right just to leave the country and go elsewhere for being who you are… there is another war that must be fought here, and it’s a war to recognize gay rights in the Middle East. Even though I am not gay, I am fighting this war with the homosexuals in this region.

I’ll grant you all that for sure, I’m just responding to the statement that the US refuses to grant asylum. As to why the MSM and especially gay activists in the States are silent is the same reason you don’t see feminist up in arms over some of the treatment women in Muslim countries receive, it doesn’t fit their political agenda. And I’ll fight this war with ya.

Iraq has enough problems without coddling a bunch of misfits. This is a low priority to them protecting gays. I am sure the Iraqi government is concentrating on providing protection to the whole country and not singling out any groups. And what is the use of bringing more people into the unemployed roles in the United States. I think your arument is one sided. The gay rights movement is an abomination and doesn’t have any historical evidence of being tolerated.