Keli Goff: Does the New "Free" Egypt Mean Freedom for Gays & Lesbians There? (600 hits)
As we celebrate Egypt's newfound freedom, let's not forget those in the Middle East -- and in the U.S. -- who still struggle to live their lives freely. After all, true democracy can only exist when there is equality for all. ...
According to the International Lesbian and Gay Association s*x between adults of the same gender remains a criminal act in 85 countries. A significant number of those countries are located in Africa and the Middle East. As I noted on The Dylan Ratigan Show, while Egypt does not have an anti-sodomy law on the books like many of the countries on the list do, other laws have been used to target and arrest gays and lesbians there.
For instance, the country has a laws against so-called debauchery, and violating religious teachings which Human Rights Watch points out was used to arrest 52 gay men at a club in 2001. Dubbed "The Cairo 52," despite the pleas of international humanitarian organizations 23 of the men were sentenced to hard labor. In 2004 an Egyptian college student was sentenced to seventeen years of hard labor as well, for posting a profile on a gay dating site.
Targeting gays and lesbians who attempt to connect online has become increasingly popular among Egyptian authorities in recent years. While I hate to be a "Debbie Downer," it must be said that amid the worldwide jubilation that greeted the news of Hosni Mubarak's retirement from his chosen profession of dictator, not all are celebrating. A big question mark remains regarding what this new era in Egypt will mean for gays and lesbians.
There have been fears expressed among some in the LGBT community that the influence of groups like the Muslim Brotherhood demonstrated during the country's recent protests, could signal a new era of oppression. (Although if you can get sentenced to prison for posting a personals ad online, I guess it's worth asking how much worse can things get for the LGBT community?)
The organization's emphasis on combining religious ideology with policy should give all supporters of LGBT and women's rights pause, and apparently already is. Former Prime Minister Tony Blair has cautioned world leaders about the group, in part for this very reason. So as we celebrate Egypt's newfound freedom, let's not forget to remember those there and elsewhere in the Middle East, and here, struggling to live their lives freely. After all, true democracy can only exist when there is equality for all.
This piece originally appeared on TheLoop21.com for which Goff is a Contributing Editor.
More in World... Mensaman Democracy? Freedom? We don't know at all what is going to happen. The military runs the country, and has since 1952. Meet the new boss - same as the old boss. The constitution is suspended and you are dreaming of more civil rights? Promises. I guess a fair benchmark would be the treatement of gays in Russia since 1989. Have things changed? I'm asking because I do not know. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BoyInBOYCOTT Egypt will progress on liberation of women and LGBTs in their own way, and on their time schedule. That isn't something that can be imposed on a culture. I do hope Egyptian youth movement will be more live and let live, and if Egyptian LGBTs feel safer outside the country they should migrate. America took 50 years fighting to allow women to vote, hundreds of years to end Slavery, and 40 years for the LGBT progress we made. No one else imposed their ideas of liberation on the USA, it happens organicly. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FearlessLeader "Egypt will progress on liberation of women and LGBTs in their own way, and on their time schedule. That isn't something that can be imposed on a culture."
Spoken like a true moral relativist. Oppression of LGBT's is as wrong in Egypt as it is anywhere else! We cannot send armies to Egypt to straighten out their act. But we can speak out about it!
Marcus047 47 minutes ago (10:18 AM) 106 Fans I doubt things will get better and expect that things will get worse. Now that they're writing a new constitution with the input and influence of the Muslim Brotherhood and other religious leaders, expect anti-sodomy and anti-gay laws to be put ont he books and a new crackdown on the gay and lesbian community. And expect attempts by members of the LGBT community to flee to other, safer countries, as happens in other countries with harsh anti-gay laws right now.
GardenerNorCal 52 minutes ago (10:13 AM) 647 Fans "Does the New "Free" Egypt Mean Freedom for Gays & Lesbians There?"
I wasn't aware the protests taking place in Egypt were about homos*xual rights. Careful people this is a marketting strategy used to redirect and deflect. It's nothing but more anti-muslim baiting. Much as abortion and flag burning turn up here when a certain segment doesn't want to address the real issues under discussion such as the ever widening economic gap.
GardenerNorCal: "Does the New "Free" Egypt Mean Freedom for Gays & Sorry, but Egypt is primarily a Muslim country. Traditionally, Muslims don't believe homos*xuality is permissible behavior. (They're wrong, of course, but that's their belief.) Therefore, and regardless of the political upheaval that's going on currently, I wouldn't be looking for equal rights for gays and lesbians in Egypt anytime soon.
Natalie Bennett 46 minutes ago (10:20 AM) 39 Fans Follow sooo, I take it you've been having conversations with Egyptian gays & lesbians and actually know what's being discussed -- or not?
Natalie_Bennett: sooo, I take it you've been having conversations with Egyptian Kalie That will be another hundred years. Being gay is a s*xual lifestyle, not a civil right. And before you try to skewer me with hate, I do have a question. Does Great Britain or any European country acknowledge gay rights, as far as marriage and medical?
Kalie: That will be another hundred years. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Marcus047 32 minutes ago (10:33 AM) 106 Fans Yes. Gay marriage is available in 6 european countries, civil unions in all the rest. And medical care is available for free to everyone, regardless of whether they are gay or not, why would anyone ask are you gay before providing medical care?
And being gay is not a lifestyle, it's a life, just like being straight is a life. It's a key, immutable part of who you are the impacts on everything else you are and do. Marcus047: Yes. Gay marriage is available in 6 european countries, civil ...the Neatherlands recognize gay marriage and has for at least 7 years that I know of.
