Gay community hit hard by Middle East turmoil

[theHandpuppet]

These stories just break my heart. I salute those who, even under the threat of torture and imprisonment, continue to fight for LGBTQ rights.

BBC News - Middle East
29 October 2014
Gay community hit hard by Middle East turmoil
James Longman

"There is nobody left in my life who hasn't hurt me."

Jawad worked in sales in Syria before the war began. When his father found out he was gay, he had him arrested.

After five years of hard labour, he emerged a broken man, only to find his country at war. Estranged from his family, he found himself dangerously exposed.

Soon after his release, he was gang raped at gun point by four men from an armed group....

MORE at http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-29628281

[Aerows]

1. Horrible

He is the epitome of bravery, yet his family doesn't see it.

[Behind the Aegis]

2. It isn't just the turmoil.

It has been like this for years. With the exception of Israel, being gay in the ME is dangerous. Lebanon is improving, but like many states in the US, it really depends on where you live. Of the ten countries where gays can be executed for simply being gay, 6 are in the ME.

The article is "interesting" it that it blames the 'West' for the persecution of gays. The persecution will continue for years to come.

[theHandpuppet]

3. You're right that homophobia didn't just arise in the ME

It's been there all along, thanks to religious extremism. But as with all marginalized or oppressed people within a society, such as women and gays, it seems they become even bigger targets when conflicts arise. It's the pattern, isn't it? Attack the most vulnerable first. Look at what's happening in so many countries throughout Africa, where LGBTs are being horribly oppressed, fueled by the rhetoric of religious leaders both Christian and Muslim. In Liberia there has been a startling rise in anti-LGBT violence because some of their Christian leaders have declared that ebola has been brought down on them by God because of homosexuality. You can bet that wherever there is conflict or crisis in the world, women and LGBTs are going to be right in the crosshairs.

What enrages me (but doesn't surprise me) is how our govt continues to kiss the collective asses of regimes guilty of the most heinous human rights violations. Of course, we all know that if you have enough oil, you can get a pass on just about anything. Our govt only seems to muster a murmur when the country involved hasn't got some natural resource worth exploiting.

[LostOne4Ever]

4. That is one reason why I think its important for us to develop more alternative sources of energy

So that we can tell Bigoted shitholes like Russia and Saudi Arabia to take their oil and go screw themselves.