Arabs are gay

Across the Arab world, LGBTQ communities still struggle to gain social recognition, and individuals still face legal penalties for consensual activities. In Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and Iraq, homosexuality is punishable by death. In , 52 men were arrested for being gay in Cairo. And in Syria, Algeria, and the United Arab Emirates, being outed as homosexual means facing years in prison. While activists in some countries, such as Lebanon, have made progress toward greater rights, personal security remains an imperative. But the Internet is increasingly becoming a risky place for exploration.

The only gay pride event in the Arab world has been cancelled after the organiser was held by police. Last year, Lebanon became the first Arab country to hold a gay pride week, though the opening event was cancelled because of safety concerns after threats of violence. It had opened with a brunch celebrating parents who had not abandoned their children when they came out as LGBT and over the next nine days there were talks and plays organised. Lebanon is widely seen as more socially liberal than most other Arab countries, but lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people say they are still discriminated against by the state. In a statement on the Beirut Pride website , Damien said that security services turned up late on Tuesday at a public reading of a theatre play, and took him in for questioning. He added that he was told if he refused to sign the pledge, he would be referred to the investigation judge for interrogation. But last year a Lebanese judge said that same-sex relations do not contradict laws of nature, a move welcomed by rights activists.

The burst of a trumpet vibrato sends her into a dramatic swoon, basking under applause and the warmth of stage lights. Madame Tayoush is a man in drag, performing at a Tarab NYC event, at which lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Arab-Americans can celebrate without judgment both their sexual orientation and Arab culture — a slice of society with customs that seldom allow for discussion of sex and gender. The program will celebrate its second anniversary with an event Saturday. A handful of parties are also held in Arab-dense cities such as Los Angeles and Detroit, but Tarab is doing more than throwing a party — it is run by New York City's LGBT Arab community and seeks to build a community outside of the nightclub scene.

Gay Australian Arabs victims of homophobia: study. Follow all the action from day four of the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in our live blog. A study has found many homosexuals in Australia's Arabic community have been the victims of homophobic violence and have suffered verbal abuse or pressure to act straight. The report also interviewed the community's elders and religious leaders, who said people should be excluded or "corrected" to discourage homosexual behaviour.