Syrian Gays Come Out of the Closet
In a country where having 'insulting relations' is punishable by up to a year in prison, it is not easy to be out of the closet as gay or lesbian. While homosexuality is considered a crime in Syria, it is nowhere explicitly mentioned in the laws. In recent weeks, however, gays and lesbians have become more visible on the streets of Damascus, the capital of Syria (pictured right). As the French website TÊTU reports, the Internet seems to be responsible for this sudden and tentative opening of the closet door. A group of approximately 200 Syrian gays and lesbians have formed a Facebook group called "I Am Like You," and they have launched a manifesto: "I am homosexual. I have the right to express my opinion. I am part of this society, which owes me respect. I am homosexual, but I do not come from another planet." The manifesto goes on to call for the repeal of a clause in the penal code that "punishes people for their sexual orientation, which they have not chosen."
Brave people have been answering the call, making themselves visible at certain spots around Damascus: an upscale shopping street, a public park near a large hotel, pubs in the historic city center where weekly meetings are held. Souheil, a gay man in his thirties, says he leads a double life in order to keep up appearances, but he "wants to change that mentality." He also wants the rights of everyone "to be respected regardless of their sexual identity." To be sure, homosexuality has always existed in Syria although clandestinely in certain bars, restaurants, parks, and hammams (bathhouses). Following Syria's endorsement of a declaration condemning homosexuality at the United Nations, Syrian gays and lesbians are risking a little more visibility in the hope of changing the widely held sentiment that they are "sick and perverted." We in the United States would do well to remember, despite some recent setbacks, how well we gays and lesbians have it in this country and to use the struggle for basic human and civil rights that the LGBT communities in other cultures have to wage as a galvanizing inspiration for what we hope to accomplish.
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Comments
Wow, you're arrogant.
I'm sorry, I really am. I'm probably not supposed to read it this way, but honestly, you need to know: When anyone says anything along the lines of "For those of us who think we don't have it good over here, just remember there are people OVER THERE that really have it bad," it doesn't sound like your showing solidarity, it sounds like you're being condescending.
I realize that, yes, we Syrians have a long way to go in recognizing the rights of many of our citizens, from women, to ethnic minorities, and those with alternative sexual orientations, but the truth of the matter is, America is perhaps a very, very poor example to follow. A country that advertises itself as the freest society in the world, and one that respects the rights of all its citizens, has recently shown that it has condoned the worst acts of torture, that it's most liberal government won't prosecute those responsible for that, and the election of that most liberal government allowed the nullification of the rights of a large minority group in the country of their equal rights with their apparently bigoted majority. You don't get to look down on us.
To give credit where it's due, thank you for publishing this article. Obviously, we don't have a media that prefers to broadcast this type of news, so hearing it here has helped me know what's going on in my own country. I thank you for that, and because of this article, I and other like-minded people here will show our support as much as we can. Cheers.