Homosexuality In The Arab World
I've written a bit about homosexuality here and there in the past, mainly commenting on a piece of related news or something, but I never got around to writing a post just about homosexuality in the Arab world. This is my attempt at writing that post.
First of all, let's start with the general fact: Homosexuality exists. It has existed for ages and ages, and will continue to exist for ages to come.
The Arab and Muslim world is no exception. Homosexuality exists in our societies and is a lot more widespread than we think it is.
We and our governments choose to ignore that fact, we choose not to face it, and just act as if it's not there, even though we know we're lying to ourselves; it's because we simply don't know how to handle it.
We hope that just by turning our backs to it, it'll dissapear, and we won't have to take a position on this issue.
It's getting harder and harder to do that though, especially with the western influence, pushing the idea that gayness is normal down our throats everyday.
Yet really there's no need to talk about homosexuality being normal or not, as "normal" is quite relative, and is mainly what a certain society defines as normal, so no need to restrict ourselves to one definition or another.
But, homosexuality simply can't be regarded as a natural thing; basic logic, human anatomy, religion and many other things point towards that.
Just because a couple of gay penguins, or some other gay animals were found, doesn't make it natural; since when do we evaluate ourselves through what animals do or don't do?
But what can be done? How is this dealt with?
Do we regard homosexuality as a crime punishable by law and a sentence to jail?
Do we think of it as a severe mental disorder and lock gay people up in asylums?
Do we follow the opinion that homosexuality is a result of a hormonal disorder, and inject gay people with hormones to make them more masculine or feminine?
Or should we just act "forward-thinking" and follow the western world, accept homosexuality openly, and then give gay people the right to marriage when they start asking for it?
Some more moderate people think that counselling could help. Maybe it could.
But obviously none of the above is a direct, satisfactory and acceptable solution for everyone in our Arab world. Yet the problem is that once the issue is uncovered, it'll be like pandora's box being opened, impossible to ever close again.
So, is the Arab world's policy of just ignoring the existence of homosexuality, and leaving it for the Arab society to deal with, as something that is both illegal by law and forbidden by religion, the best solution we have?
Middle East's First Gay Pride Parade? World Bank Report On Education In The Arab World Arab World To Fight Software Piracy Oil, Food, Control And The Arab World Increasing anti-US sentiment in the Arab Worldto me, the phenomena of guy and lesbian is a medical/psychlogical condition that needs to be treated adequately.
Posted by: Napo at May 30, 2006 01:15 AMI think Homosexuality will be never disapear, but we have to never accept in ours socity, it's against nature
Posted by: M2K (The Tunisian Star) at May 30, 2006 01:55 AMi just wanna say i'm impressed with this post as it handled the topic with impartiality and an open mind that is often not present in the arab world.. i agree that the way homosexuality is handled now is not correct and its not helping at all, and i'm not too sure what is the right way (its definitely not the way handled in the west either though)!
anyhow.. thanks for the post :)
Are u saying that homosexuality is wrong ? Do u think it is ? And even if u do, do u think that people should think like u do ?
I mean what's wrong about two gais being together ? Have they done smthg wrong to u or to anybody else ?
Even if I don't like homosexuality, it's kind of discusting for me, but i don't have the right to forbid it or to make people follow my opinion.
There were a very smart guy whos said that even u have the opposite point of view of mine, i will strive to death to make u have the right to express and defend it.
on retrouve dans ce post "impartial" et "ouvert" la quintessence des idées reçues à propos de l'homosexualité, de la culturel, de l'occident...
- l'homosexualité est au pire une maladie, au mieux un "problème".
- l'homosexualité n'est pas "normale". dans cette catégorie des "existence anormales" y a-t-il aussi les philosopes, les poètes, les gauchistes (à supposer qu'il en existe encore :) et autres illuminés de la pensée ?
- comment se débarrasser de ce problème dont personne ne veut et que la "religion" refuse (remarquez qu'on n'a pas demandé leurs avis aux homosexuels. normal, le problème c'est EUX).
- attention à l'influence du méchant occident qui nous pervertit avec sa philosophie humaniste et ses droits de l'homme.
- accepter les homosexuels c'est accepteur le mariage homosexuel.
Excellent post qui dénote si besoin est une connaissance très fine de l'homosexualité, de l'histoire - en particulier celle de la civilisation musulmane qui a été pendant longtemps le berceau de la dépravation et du vice où s'épanouirent d'illustres homosexuels, pédophiles et autres dépravés qui nous donnèrent parmi les plus belles proses et poésies de notre culture - et de l'Homme en général (avec un grand H pour qu'on ne dise pas que je suis homophobe :)
Bravo ! votre post me persuade que contrairement à l'homosexualité, qu'on cherche par tout les moyens à confiner pour protéger l'humanité du danger ultime qu'elle représente, la connerie humaine, elle, ne connait aucune limite à sa créativité et son épanouissement !
Posted by: ancien combattant at May 30, 2006 02:07 PMI'm from a tradition that doesn't much care what consenting adults do so long as it doesn't frighten the horses. Moral judgments I leave to the vast number of people in the world who feel empowered to make them.
As a landlord, however, I've noted over the years that though my gay tenants tend to be diffident and insular, they always pay the rent on time and leave the place sparkling clean when they depart.
Posted by: Jimbo at May 30, 2006 02:26 PMYes I agree with you, the current position on homosexuality in the Arab area of this world is a very frustrating and inhuman. I think this might be somehow related to the fact that arabic countries are mostly dominated by man and religion as same as in some wastern parts of this world.
Posted by: Maria loves pictures at May 30, 2006 05:09 PM@MMM: Neat post Marwen. Yet I was not able to fathom your "personal" take on the issue.
Posted by: Hannibal at May 30, 2006 09:11 PMHomosexuality is NOT NORMAL! It's sad the way the west is. It should not be accepted ANYWHERE! The gay and lesbians say that they can't help it as God made them that way but I will tell you one thing, Allah made us all with sin and we all have human struggles. If a person is overweight that too is a sin if not dealt with and brought to Allah (I know I can talk). As well as other problems. It's up to us to want to change no matter how hard it is. If we want to change no matter what the problem is and we ask Allah for help he will help us.
Posted by: Laila at May 30, 2006 10:18 PMI am so saddened by this post, but everyone is entitled to his or her own opionion, and I respect that you put a controversial subject for public. To say its unnatural and God did not make people that way is a very uneducated and uniformed viewpoint. A person is born homosexual. Environment can play the deciding roll in the expression or lack thereof of the genetic condition.
I do not condone any risky or sexually loose lifestyles, hetero or homo.
How you choose to express that genetic condition is up to you and between you and allah. Sin or not sin. I do not think most homosexuals would prefer to be this way if they got to choose in the genetic lottery. Being homosexual is a very hard way to live. They should not have same rights in marriage for adopting children, but they should have chance to stay monogomous and not live bad lifestyle.
What if your son who you love said dad I am gay but I will not practice this sexually. Will you have him be married to someone if he asks for your advice.
I believe Scientology says they can counsel gayness out of someone -- look at tom cruise and travolta shining examples of gay counseling at its most effective!
Keeping people forced to hide their conditions brings about very illict behaviors. Homo and Heterosexuals should be held to the same moral standards of not engaging in pre-marital sex. Why is it worse for a man to have pre-marital sex with another man, than a man to have pre-marital sex with a woman?
Keeping the issue hidden and not discussed and applying absolutism and denial will not make it go away, and in fact more perverse behavior will develop.
Choosing to turn off and not support "western" programs will help allievate the onslaught of supergaydom being shoved down throats by the west.
When advertisers pull out of programming, the programming will cease. SO don't buy products that advertise on gay themed media shows.
907b team va defiler fel gay pride .
on est hetero et on soutient les homo ds leurs combat contre l'homophobie
ancien combattant respect!
Posted by: 907b team at May 31, 2006 02:54 PMI think no better ways could be expressed to deal such subject and i think it is all but enough for morally upright people to say something! You already have put charges to individuals who likely lived their lives the way every one choose to have theirs. Leave everything to God or to your Allah, He makes impartial judgements to us all. We are not saved by making people appear good or even through our good works, but it is through our faith in Him that secure us of our salvation! We all sin! Don't we? I restpect every ones opinion on this, but dont shoved it down trying to make gay people look worst than straight human-slaughters, prostitutes, adolterers and even high ranking church officials keeping deep dark secrets, or even our-lying-selves too (yes this includes you). We all need to respect one another and not try to make one our underdog. This is when war starts if people lose respect. Life is fair. We all got something popping out soon, and only those people who couldn't find a life of their own discusses other peoples lives. Lets be fair!
Posted by: jools at August 12, 2006 10:07 AMI believe that God's greatest gift to us was the freedom of choice. We can do the right thing, or the wrong, but we are free to do either. Now we're taking away that choice by not allowing homosexual marriage to take place. I thought freedom of religion, also meant freedom from religion.
Posted by: katie at November 22, 2006 07:16 PMI’ve been into these reports of researches as I’m currently undertaking my sociology course. Firstly, I really do have to say that the sexual orientation is merely a cause of natural and biological factors regardless the ‘penguin studies’ mentioned above. It is the hypothalamus (part of the human brain) which secretes hormones differs from the heterosexuals. It is proven that it occurs in human beings. It is also said that a certain part of human brain is larger than the heterosexuals. If these were to be said as a choice of an individual, it is not true (note: this is not a disease or disorder but individuals are born as they are). Besides that, sending these individuals to rehabilitation or counseling are also proven failed. The attraction that occurs in homosexuals is similar to what is experienced by the heterosexuals. My opinion is to just leave these individuals as they are and accept them as a member of the society, not labeling or discriminate them out of your own judgment without any knowledge of these sexual orientation. Rejecting these individuals will cause great distress and psychological effect to them. Human rights exists, sanctions and locking up is definitely a no-no. *hmmm.. let me put it this way, if all same sex individuals were to be placed on a different island as another society, the sexual orientation would be a norm to that society itself. Same applies to an island full of man eating society, they don’t see it as abnormal but many traditional and conservative individuals find them abnormal and might even reject them. *see?
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Laila, it is apparent and obvious you’re heterosexual women. You said an individual can change their sexual preference if they try hard enough, but let me ask you, can you change into a homosexual? I’m not talking about religious teachings here but the ABILITY of a person to change their sexual preference. CAN YOU? The answer is NO- because you are BORN as a straight woman. So does the homosexuals. (you said changes is possible while you yourself are not able to change). It is just your religion that says it is a sin to have same sex couples (you said that), no one can actually prove that homosexuality is a sin, at all! Therefore, don’t judge other individuals based on only religion without putting yourself in their shoes.
Posted by: hulala at May 7, 2007 08:01 AMI totally agree and support reem's opinion. And jools's statement for respect is very applicable. *salute*
Posted by: hulala at May 7, 2007 08:07 AMwow..totally enlighthening...this should usher the dawn of a new civilization..
Posted by: roy at December 13, 2007 06:36 PMwow..totally enlighthening...this should usher the dawn of a new civilization..
Posted by: roy at December 13, 2007 06:37 PMI really can't believe what I'm reading... Homosexuality an illness?? I see you still stuck in the prehistoric era... what is not right is to pretend to be what you're not, either you're gay or straight, and to punish people for been who they are.
Posted by: Lothh at December 28, 2007 02:12 PM