A Must-Read Story: Being Gay in Egypt

[Luc 4,776]

In the Netherlands, the country went through a period in which religious influence greatly went down in a short period.

Before the 60s, you had seperate radio channels, schools, hospitals, newspapers, (trade) unions, churches, political parties, etc depending on the religion you had (protestantism/catholicism). Basically if you were a protestant you would never meet a catholic while living in the same city. In the 60s, the country went through a kind of cultural revolution in which many people became atheists, hippies and such became prevalent, schools were more often public then not, all hospitals became public, and secular television and radio became more popular,  and before you knew it weed was legal, civil unions for gays were legal, feminism and openly gay people were a thing and prostitution was legal in the 70s. I have big hopes something alike will happen in the Middle East, because I think it's very possible. It depends on the circumstances and the younger generation however. It can also go very gradually, but that would be too slow for the younger generation to enjoy the freedom they deserve. It's called 'ontzuiling' and I don't think it happened in other countries. This all happened thanks to democratisation of society and emancipation.

Perhaps the situation in the Netherlands back then could best be compared to Lebanon today: you even have a seperate court system for muslims and christians. It's impossible to sustain the current religious systems in many countries because these days it is way easier than 50 years ago to come across different ideologies, opinions and ways of life than before, thanks to the internet and I think it's possible for the big secularization to happen anytime soon, as the Arabs get richer and become more connected to the rest of the world.

[Alii 2,039]

In the Netherlands, the country went through a period in which religious influence greatly went down in a short period.

Before the 60s, you had seperate radio channels, schools, hospitals, churches, political parties, etc depending on the religion you had (protestantism/catholicism). Basically if you were a protestant you would never meet a catholic while living in the same city. In the 60s, the country went through a kind of cultural revolution in which many people became atheists, hippies and such became prevalent, schools were more often public then not, all hospitals became public, and secular television and radio became more popular,  and before you knew it weed was legal, civil unions for gays were legal and prostitution was legal in the 70s. I have big hopes something alike will happen in the Middle East, because I think it's very possible. It depends on the circumstances and the younger generation however. It can also go very gradually, but that would be too slow for the younger generation to enjoy the freedom they deserve. It's called 'ontzuiling' and I don't think it happened in other countries.

The younger generation is, of course, more open minded. But not when it comes to LGBT. Young adults are still pretty homophobic. 

The US legalization of same-s-x marriage proved to me that nothing would improve anytime soon. People don't discuss homos-xuality and oppose it, they refuse to recognize that some people are not straight/cis and claim that it is an illness and that LGBT people have been Westernized. 

Also religion supports them, which is still powerful here. The majority of Muslims are intolerant, that's a fact.  

[Luc 4,776]

The younger generation is, of course, more open minded. But not when it comes to LGBT. Young adults are still pretty homophobic. 

The US legalization of same-s-x marriage proved to me that nothing would improve anytime soon. People don't discuss homos-xuality and oppose it, they refuse to recognize that some people are not straight/cis and claim that it is an illness and that LGBT people have been Westernized. 

Also religion supports them, which is still powerful here. The majority of Muslims are intolerant, that's a fact.  

At least people knowing about it is one thing.

Truth is, any reasonable person should not see the problems with homos-xuality. If a young mind actually thinks about it, they will eventually come to the conclusion that there's nothing wrong with it. Lack of freedom of speech and freedom of protestation is probably the biggest thing in the way of a big public debate about homos-xuality. If it weren't for the lack of freedom of speech, there would probably be mass gay parades in Cairo which could start a public debate.

[Alii 2,039]

At least people knowing about it is one thing.

Truth is, any reasonable person should not see the problems with homos-xuality. If a young mind actually thinks about it, they will eventually come to the conclusion that there's nothing wrong with it. Lack of freedom of speech and freedom of protestation is probably the biggest thing in the way of a big public debate about homos-xuality. If it weren't for the lack of freedom of speech, there would probably be mass gay parades in Cairo which could start a public debate.

They won't afford losing their social lives. And in some cases, even their families.

The ones who think about it in a scientific way, they may think that there is nothing wrong with it. But religion will convince them. It is one of the major sins in Islam. And the punishment for it is death by either throwing them from the highest building in the city, burning them alive or stoning. 

 

[socotra 3,357]

I feel so much for these people. I truly cannot fathom how internally degrading and exhausting an atmosphere like that is - these accounts give a little insight, but hardly scratch the surface. It's a shame so much of the world, and a majority of the population on earth, don't have basic freedoms like being able to choose your life partner.

It's horrifying that governments persecute people in this way, but I think it's more horrifying that the people support them.