Arabian gay men
Kingdom in the Closet: Saudi Arabia's Remarkably Vibrant Gay Community
Yasser, a 26-year-old artist, was taking me on an impromptu tour of his hometown of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on a sweltering September afternoon. The air conditioner of his dusty Honda battled the heat, prayer beads dangled from the rearview mirror, and the smell of the cigarette he’d just smoked wafted toward me as he stopped to demonstrate me a barbershop that his friends frequent. Officially, men in Saudi Arabia aren’t allowed to wear their hair long or to display jewelry—such vanities are usually deemed to violate an Islamic instruction that the sexes must not be too similar in appearance. But Yasser wears a silver necklace, a silver bracelet, and a sparkly red stud in his left ear, and his hair is shaggy. Yasser is homosexual, or so we would describe him in the West, and the barbershop we visited caters to gay men. Business is brisk.
Departing the barbershop, we drove onto Tahlia Street, a broad avenue framed by palm trees, then went past a succession of sleek malls and slowed in front of a glass-and-steel shopping center. Men congregated outside and in nearby cafés. Whereas
Through a haze of shisha smoke and somewhat stifling sexual stigma, the Arab world unveils an unexpected realm of possibilities for intrepid gay travellers. If you can absolve the state-approved homophobia and are willing to act with discretion while out and about, the Arab countries can redeem themselves in a thousand and one different ways, from the ancient centre of Petra to the glittering epithets of Bahrain and into the deserts beyond. While by and grand closeted kingdoms, the handful of same-sex attracted clubs in the progressive city of Beirut can authorize you to be your true self, while the luxury international hotels across the region can ensure your privacy is respected. Combine us as we track the 5 most gay-friendly Arab countries.
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Mina Gerges (MG), originally from Egypt, talks to us about reconciling both his gay and Arab identities
London, UK – 13 Parade 2019
PTF: Being gay and Arab places you in two sometimes conflicting cultures. What was that like, and how did it affect your sexual identity journey?
MG: I was born in Egypt and grew up in Abu Dhabi, and I emigrated to Canada when I was 11. Growing up meant understanding that my identity is extremely complex and intersectional, it’s made up of several marginalized, misunderstood communities that aren’t prevalent in Western culture, so growing up and coming out was complicated and alienating.
I grew up in a country where being homosexual is a taboo subject, where the only word for existence gay when I lived there was a negative word. It made finding myself feel appreciate a monumental challenge: how execute I accept who I am when my identity is in direct opposition to the very foundation of Middle Eastern society and Coptic identity, and how do I deal with the shame it’ll bring my family? Growing up, I felt tremendous shame because being queer, Middle Eastern/North African, and Coptic felt like an illegitimate and confusing mix of identities.
It ju
Saudi Gay Scene: 'Forbidden, but I can't Help It'
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, May 25, 2009 — -- For Samir*, a 34-year-old gay man living in Saudi Arabia, each evening is a denial. He lives in Mecca, the holiest city according to Islam, and is acutely aware of the stigma that surrounds his homosexual lifestyle.
"I'm a Muslim. I know it's forbidden, but I can't help it," he tells ABC News, clearly conflicted.
"I pray to God to help me be straight, just to avoid hell. But I know that I'm queer and I'm living as one, so I can't see a clear vision for the future."
Samir, favor many gay men in the Arab world, guards his sexual orientation with a paranoid secrecy. To feel free he takes long vacations to Thailand, where he has a boyfriend, and spends weekends in Lebanon, which he regards as having a more gay-tolerant society.
But at home in Saudi Arabia, he is vigilant. Samir's parents don't know of his lifestyle. He says his mom would murder herself if she establish out. They constantly arrange him up with women they consider potential wives. At work, Samir watches his words, careful not to arouse the suspicion of colleagues.
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