Comments on: Interview with a Syrian homosexual http://www.mideastyouth.com/2007/03/20/interview-with-a-syrian-homosexual/ Thinking Ahead Sat, 11 Feb 2012 20:46:46 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Rima http://www.mideastyouth.com/2007/03/20/interview-with-a-syrian-homosexual/#comment-5133 Rima Sat, 20 Dec 2008 19:45:33 +0000 http://www.mideastyouth.com/2007/03/20/interview-with-a-syrian-homosexual/#comment-5133 Hi I liked this article.. I am totally gay and I have a gf both from Syria, we are so inlove and we are planing to get married and we've been together for a long time now .. we are christian both.. and both very committed to our christianity and very well educated and reaching good positions at work and we have alot of friends and people know about us. so I don't think religion , education , background.. etc. are related in anyway to sexual orientation. But they could affect one to chose homosexuality as "sex" because of the absent of the opportunity to have sex with other gender, or the opposite sometimes homosexual people chosing to act straight to keep track with society culture. Now as an answer for what Lina is saying that most homosexuals are about sex.. well I see that mostly happens when someone is chosing homosexuality to satisfy their sexual needs as the other gender is absent as I said before.. Me and my gf have too many lesbian and gay friends and we've been living in a similar society , there is studd women who really like acting like boys because of some hormons .. and others are too feminen , that's reality wether we like it or not.. I am not against those who likes to act as women or lesbians who are butchy .. I am not studd neither feminin myself.. i'm just on the average side.. There are gays funded with sex yes.. but there is a similar quantity of streights funded with sex! that's another life facts.. that has nothing to do with being gay.. More for family issues.. you know I lost my family for a different reason once and they got back to me again .. and hope you will meet yours as well, I know how bad it feels. I'm sorry. Best Regards, Hi

I liked this article..
I am totally gay and I have a gf both from Syria, we are so inlove and we are planing to get married and we’ve been together for a long time now .. we are christian both.. and both very committed to our christianity and very well educated and reaching good positions at work and we have alot of friends and people know about us. so I don’t think religion , education , background.. etc. are related in anyway to sexual orientation. But they could affect one to chose homosexuality as “sex” because of the absent of the opportunity to have sex with other gender, or the opposite sometimes homosexual people chosing to act straight to keep track with society culture.

Now as an answer for what Lina is saying that most homosexuals are about sex.. well I see that mostly happens when someone is chosing homosexuality to satisfy their sexual needs as the other gender is absent as I said before..
Me and my gf have too many lesbian and gay friends and we’ve been living in a similar society , there is studd women who really like acting like boys because of some hormons .. and others are too feminen , that’s reality wether we like it or not..
I am not against those who likes to act as women or lesbians who are butchy ..
I am not studd neither feminin myself.. i’m just on the average side..

There are gays funded with sex yes.. but there is a similar quantity of streights funded with sex! that’s another life facts.. that has nothing to do with being gay..

More for family issues.. you know I lost my family for a different reason once and they got back to me again .. and hope you will meet yours as well, I know how bad it feels. I’m sorry.

Best Regards,

]]> By: K. http://www.mideastyouth.com/2007/03/20/interview-with-a-syrian-homosexual/#comment-5132 K. Sun, 12 Oct 2008 22:12:16 +0000 http://www.mideastyouth.com/2007/03/20/interview-with-a-syrian-homosexual/#comment-5132 hey, i think i am a lil a lot late in replying to this wonderful post, but its just until that i came through it while surfing the net. i am a 22 year old lesbian from syria, i dealt or misdelt with my sexuality during school and high school here, and i couldnt live it or feel it until i actually lived in lebanon for a couple of years to study psychology. now that i am back, i am frustrated in the matter of making a change, we need a radical change, i am willing to do anything to change the situation here and i dont know...i worked for a while with Helem in beirut and some other gay rights organisations but i cant seem to be even approaching to the goal which is make a change HERE in syria... i am one person, i cant do much, i met some gay ppl here, but not much of them are wittling to help make this change or start a little something...anything... if you have any ideas, any contacts any recommendations... will be greatly appreciated Peace hey,
i think i am a lil a lot late in replying to this wonderful post, but its just until that i came through it while surfing the net.
i am a 22 year old lesbian from syria, i dealt or misdelt with my sexuality during school and high school here, and i couldnt live it or feel it until i actually lived in lebanon for a couple of years to study psychology.
now that i am back, i am frustrated in the matter of making a change, we need a radical change, i am willing to do anything to change the situation here and i dont know…i worked for a while with Helem in beirut and some other gay rights organisations but i cant seem to be even approaching to the goal which is make a change HERE in syria…
i am one person, i cant do much, i met some gay ppl here, but not much of them are wittling to help make this change or start a little something…anything…
if you have any ideas, any contacts any recommendations…
will be greatly appreciated

Peace

]]> By: Esra'a http://www.mideastyouth.com/2007/03/20/interview-with-a-syrian-homosexual/#comment-5131 Esra'a Thu, 13 Mar 2008 11:31:33 +0000 http://www.mideastyouth.com/2007/03/20/interview-with-a-syrian-homosexual/#comment-5131 Fortunately Howie is no longer with us, he was indeed an abusive character. Fortunately Howie is no longer with us, he was indeed an abusive character.

]]> By: Zaf http://www.mideastyouth.com/2007/03/20/interview-with-a-syrian-homosexual/#comment-5130 Zaf Thu, 13 Mar 2008 04:18:52 +0000 http://www.mideastyouth.com/2007/03/20/interview-with-a-syrian-homosexual/#comment-5130 <blockquote>Howie Wrote: Esra’a- That was well done. Now if you could only get your politics correct…we could get on with the marriage and your dad could score the 3 camels, 2 goats and a the donkey.</blockquote> just by submitting this unintelligently disrespectful post, howie, you have lost any credibility you had. I am surprised anyone bothered arguing with you

Howie Wrote:

Esra’a-

That was well done.

Now if you could only get your politics correct…we could get on with the marriage and your dad could score the 3 camels, 2 goats and a the donkey.

just by submitting this unintelligently disrespectful post, howie, you have lost any credibility you had. I am surprised anyone bothered arguing with you

]]> By: Arab and Muslim homosexuals: Who dares defend them? - Mideast Youth - Thinking Ahead http://www.mideastyouth.com/2007/03/20/interview-with-a-syrian-homosexual/#comment-5129 Arab and Muslim homosexuals: Who dares defend them? - Mideast Youth - Thinking Ahead Wed, 26 Dec 2007 17:09:40 +0000 http://www.mideastyouth.com/2007/03/20/interview-with-a-syrian-homosexual/#comment-5129 [...] society as a whole. They get labeled and stigmatized, treated as if they are mentally ill. Some get disowned by their own families. Some are hanged. Some suffer in fear of honor [...] [...] society as a whole. They get labeled and stigmatized, treated as if they are mentally ill. Some get disowned by their own families. Some are hanged. Some suffer in fear of honor [...]

]]> By: Kirby http://www.mideastyouth.com/2007/03/20/interview-with-a-syrian-homosexual/#comment-5128 Kirby Mon, 02 Apr 2007 01:04:00 +0000 http://www.mideastyouth.com/2007/03/20/interview-with-a-syrian-homosexual/#comment-5128 I think it's great how you're totally O.K. with being a homosexual because I'm very supportive of homosexualy. I still think it's wrong for a persons parents to kick them out of their house just because someone is different. I hope in the future things will change... I think it’s great how you’re totally O.K. with being a homosexual because I’m very supportive of homosexualy. I still think it’s wrong for a persons parents to kick them out of their house just because someone is different. I hope in the future things will change…

]]> By: Howie http://www.mideastyouth.com/2007/03/20/interview-with-a-syrian-homosexual/#comment-5127 Howie Thu, 22 Mar 2007 03:01:43 +0000 http://www.mideastyouth.com/2007/03/20/interview-with-a-syrian-homosexual/#comment-5127 To me...this entire conversation is just a metaphor for the problem of lack of freedom in much of the Muslim world...Can people, in general, sing what they want, dress how they wish, watch what they want, drink what they want and on and on and on. Should we have more sympathy for a gay person than say a painter or just some poor shmuck couch potato that wants to blur his life away with a satillite TV? I will never forget the story of some poor Flipino guy that got caught with a porno. in Saudia and was put in prison for a year and flogged every Friday. Geez... To me…this entire conversation is just a metaphor for the problem of lack of freedom in much of the Muslim world…Can people, in general, sing what they want, dress how they wish, watch what they want, drink what they want and on and on and on.

Should we have more sympathy for a gay person than say a painter or just some poor shmuck couch potato that wants to blur his life away with a satillite TV? I will never forget the story of some poor Flipino guy that got caught with a porno. in Saudia and was put in prison for a year and flogged every Friday. Geez…

]]> By: Youssef (Morocco) http://www.mideastyouth.com/2007/03/20/interview-with-a-syrian-homosexual/#comment-5126 Youssef (Morocco) Wed, 21 Mar 2007 23:22:28 +0000 http://www.mideastyouth.com/2007/03/20/interview-with-a-syrian-homosexual/#comment-5126 Esra'a The history of LGBT-activism is full of sacrifices, arrests, murders, imprisonment, harassment etc. Even the LGBT-history in Europe. (and in Poland its still common nowadays, with a really homophobic parliament and president) I know that a lot of people aren't willing/ready to lose their lives or families. But some are. And those people are the ones who fight for the rights of the others. Thats how activism works. We shouldn't forget that. When you're trying to get accepted, you have to realise that you will endanger yourself and others. Sad but true It isn't just one big appearance you make, you're right. Even I started it very slow but a sudden moment you have to make that big appearance (on a personal level I mean). Same goes for on anon-personal level. Otherwise you'll still be neglected and ignored. I get the idea that arab gay-activists copy the modern-day activism of western gay-activists. But they don't realize that modern-day activism (the quiet, slow, "we're ready now" type) in the West evolved from another kind of activism (the shouty, "I'm here I'm queer" type). We cant just copy the modern-day activism and skip the one it evolved from. That won't work Esra’a

The history of LGBT-activism is full of sacrifices, arrests, murders, imprisonment, harassment etc.
Even the LGBT-history in Europe. (and in Poland its still common nowadays, with a really homophobic parliament and president)
I know that a lot of people aren’t willing/ready to lose their lives or families. But some are. And those people are the ones who fight for the rights of the others. Thats how activism works.
We shouldn’t forget that. When you’re trying to get accepted, you have to realise that you will endanger yourself and others. Sad but true

It isn’t just one big appearance you make, you’re right. Even I started it very slow but a sudden moment you have to make that big appearance (on a personal level I mean). Same goes for on anon-personal level.
Otherwise you’ll still be neglected and ignored.
I get the idea that arab gay-activists copy the modern-day activism of western gay-activists. But they don’t realize that modern-day activism (the quiet, slow, “we’re ready now” type) in the West evolved from another kind of activism (the shouty, “I’m here I’m queer” type).
We cant just copy the modern-day activism and skip the one it evolved from.
That won’t work

]]> By: Esra'a http://www.mideastyouth.com/2007/03/20/interview-with-a-syrian-homosexual/#comment-5125 Esra'a Wed, 21 Mar 2007 22:25:10 +0000 http://www.mideastyouth.com/2007/03/20/interview-with-a-syrian-homosexual/#comment-5125 You're right, but what about the gays who WANT their views to be expressed in those magazines and they're not getting their right to? It's a big issue. In the Gulf you will know the significance of it, the gays really want an outlet to express themselves and if they own their own outlet, they will be targeted for it (that means people are going to want to kill them.) <blockquote>Gays in the ME are invisible, they have to make themselves visible by having their own outlets.</blockquote> In more liberal places like Lebanon they already do but do you think homosexuals in Saudi or Yemen would be able to get their own outlets? It's practically impossible, and if they did it, they'd be suicidal. They will be imprisoned if not killed. <blockquote>Going soft and trying to “merge” with the majority will lead you nowhere.</blockquote> Like Lina said, coming out would also mean you're risking too much. You can't make one BIG appearance - you need to take it slow. Not everyone is willing to lose their lives or families over this. You start with targeting the mass media and then slowly gain your own outlets where people start respecting and tolerating you. You can't just own a magazine for gays and expect not to be humiliated or targeted for it - this isn't Sweden. You’re right, but what about the gays who WANT their views to be expressed in those magazines and they’re not getting their right to? It’s a big issue. In the Gulf you will know the significance of it, the gays really want an outlet to express themselves and if they own their own outlet, they will be targeted for it (that means people are going to want to kill them.)

Gays in the ME are invisible, they have to make themselves visible by having their own outlets.

In more liberal places like Lebanon they already do but do you think homosexuals in Saudi or Yemen would be able to get their own outlets? It’s practically impossible, and if they did it, they’d be suicidal. They will be imprisoned if not killed.

Going soft and trying to “merge” with the majority will lead you nowhere.

Like Lina said, coming out would also mean you’re risking too much. You can’t make one BIG appearance – you need to take it slow. Not everyone is willing to lose their lives or families over this. You start with targeting the mass media and then slowly gain your own outlets where people start respecting and tolerating you. You can’t just own a magazine for gays and expect not to be humiliated or targeted for it – this isn’t Sweden.

]]> By: Youssef (Morocco) http://www.mideastyouth.com/2007/03/20/interview-with-a-syrian-homosexual/#comment-5124 Youssef (Morocco) Wed, 21 Mar 2007 22:08:14 +0000 http://www.mideastyouth.com/2007/03/20/interview-with-a-syrian-homosexual/#comment-5124 noooooooooo :P I just posted a whole reply and now it's gone.... So I guess you have to wait ;), cuz its Desperate Housewives-time here in the UK. noooooooooo :P

I just posted a whole reply and now it’s gone….
So I guess you have to wait ;) , cuz its Desperate Housewives-time here in the UK.

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