Anti-gay Iran, Iraq, Afganistan etc
 

I'm starting this thread for anti-gay news in Middle East Countries like Iraq, Iran and Afganistan, Eygpt, Saudi Arabia etc. Sharia law, which is prevalent in many of these countries, is extremely anti-gay. The punishment for same-sex activity is stoning, hanging and decapitation.

We must nor forget our brothers and sisters, who are jailed, beaten and murdered because of who they are.


http://www.towleroad.com/2007/05/iranian_police_.html

:pray:

Stories like this are why I receive alerts from Amnesty International. I wish there was something we could do. Writing a letter now and then really doesn't feel like enough.

I read about a police raid in NYC around the time of Stonewall where a young man panicked trying to escape a police station by jumping from an upstairs room to a roof. He landed on a spiked fence and was impaled there, still alive while they had to remove part of the fence in order to transport him to a hospital. The part about people being injured jumping from windows reminded me of that.

I agree Zerbie... I want to do more. Hopefully, by focusing our collective energies on this issue we can create something powerful.

Nate

Like what?? What can we possibly do? :'(

Can I just say this: we are not their 'brothers and sisters'--unless we're related to terrorists who would love nothing more than to see America's demise.

Two of my sons are in the Army and fighting the war against them, to help create a stonger, safer America tomorrow. Try showing some support by not suggesting they're the 'brothers' of the people who would just as soon see them dead as alive.

As for their anti-gay problems: who cares???? I mean, really: who cares?

I'm posting from America and would prefer you act like it also.

Here we go again.

Moderators, anyone?

This is a completely obnoxious post.

Obnoxious?

I call it honest.

Moderators or not, I stand by this.

This is absolutely uncalled for.

The world is not so black & white. Just because they were born in the middle east you believe they are terrorists? I think the ACTUAL terrorists believe WE are bad just because we were born over here. Don't become the very thing you despise.

Kimmyd- I'm sorry that you do not seem to share the goals and aims of Soulforce, which is to respond nonviolently to the suffering of GLBT persons everywhere, not just here in the United States.

I don't don't know if you are a Christian, but Jesus taught us to treat others as we would like to be treated ourselves. And in light of his teaching, your comments above are highly intolerant and insensitive.

I pray for your sons safe return.

The thing is, those people have far more to worry about than intolerant gays. FAR more. Their biggest concern is surviving the day, gay or not. I do feel empathy for the innocent mid-east people suffering every day, but not about their sexual preferences at this point. To me, that is a rediculous subject to pity them about, when their biggest concern is walking home from a market without getting blown up. I don't think they need our support in their sexual preference issues as much as our prayers for their freedom and safety.

I am not a cold person, just a realistic one. Waging a campaign for gay rights in Iraq, right now, is just plain stupid, IMO. I support gay rights here and abroad. But let's not go overboard with this thing by bringing it to the mid-east. It just isn't the big issue in that regard.

I really don't care what ACTUAL terrorists think one way or the other, since they are murderous bastards.

That said, do not ever--and I mean EVER, Zerbie, warn me to not become a terrorist. Ever. I am a law-abiding AMERICAN and will be to the end.

Also, Daniel, thank you very much for what you said about my sons. I do appreciate that.

If, someday, things are safe enough in the mid-east to do so, I'd love to engage in the battle for their right to be gay. I just don't see that day coming any time soon.

Whether you are a cold person or not is not the issue here.

This thread is about anti-gay violence in the mid and near east. If you don't want to know about, you don't have you. With that in mind, I suggest to avoid this thread in the future.

A rising tide lifts all boats.
 

No one is saying one thing outweighs another; any time a person's life is unnecessarily put in danger, we should make ourselves aware of it and do what we can to help.

One of the biggest responsibilities, in my view, that gay people and those who love them (and you know who you are :D) have is to bear witness to the crimes against "our own" because we've learned all too often that no one else will. That's what Daniel was doing (I believe) when he started this thread -- making us aware of crimes being committed. He did this because he knows I care and would want to know and that others care and would want to know.

The fact that you, kimmyd, don't care is irrelevant to me. What is not irrelevant is coming into "our house" and shooting your mouth off about the fact.

There are guidelines on this site, which I believe you've broken. I hope your privilege to post is revoked, but it is not my decision to make.

'Your house' is a chat-site where I am allowed to give my opinion as much as you are. If you view this site as a 'house', you need a more meaningful life.

Get over yourself. The drama isn't necessary.

Read the guidelines.

You are incorrect; you are not allowed to say whatever you want.

What I suggest is that you don't make this a place where the only opinion allowed is a warm, snuggly, hugging one that every single person agreees with. That is not realistic.

If you don't want differing opinions, don't start threads. It's that simple. But when you open one and invite people to post, expect differing views.

I am not a robot who just agrees with everything poured down my throat.

I am, if I am not cursing or otherwise attacking people. I am ABSOLUTELY allowed my opinion, if this site is opened in America.

I know the guidlines.

Do you?

The Guidelines
 

You have been overly hostile to individuals as well as to Soulforce's goals of helping gay and lesbian people everywhere. And you've now implied a thread to Zerbie.

(See below.)

This has happened before.

However, as I said before, it is not my decision to make. I trust the moderators will take the appropriate steps.





Inappropriate Content

The following content is not allowed on the Soulforce Forums:

Links to sites containing adult images

Sexual harassment

Anti-Gay comments
We welcome people who are on the journey to understanding and accepting gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people. However obvious anti-gay comments will not be allowed in the public forums. Such comments are not merely opinions, but rather a way to demean and oppress GLBT people. Any posts deemed by the Soulforce staff to be anti-gay will be removed. First time offenders will always receive a warning via private message. Repeat offenders will lose both their right to post messages on any of the Soulforce Public Forums and also their right to send private messages to other members.

Materials promoting "ex-gay ministries" or "reparative therapy"
Some homosexual persons claim to have experienced a change in their sexual orientation. Their stories are their stories and we should not try to change them if they are sincerely happy. With that said, however, the vast majority of these brothers and sisters entered "ex-gay ministries" or "reparative therapy" under the belief of a homosexual orientation being morally inferior and a heterosexual orientation being morally superior. Such a belief is a falsehood that is used by many to deny GLBT people equality in society and full membership in our churches. Thus the promotion of "ex-gay ministries" or "reparative therapy" is not permitted on the forums and will be handled as anti-gay comments.

Posts that are excessively hostile to Soulforce
We certainly make room for forum members to disagree with Soulforce and post constructive criticism. However we don’t permit excessive hostility towards the organization on our own website. Such posts will be removed and offenders will lose their privilege to post messages.

Spam
Off topic messages, irrelevant advertisements, and "copy and paste" mass postings not dealing with the thread's topic will be considered spam and promptly removed. First time offenders will always receive a warning via private message. Repeat offenders will lose both their right to post messages on any of the Soulforce Public Forums and also their right to send private messages to other members.

This thread is being closed for review. I am shocked at your first post kimmyd.

Also, I'll take this opportunity to mention a documentary titled Dangerous Living: Coming Out in the Developing World

Update
(5/22/2007 7:15PM EST)
This thread is being reopened.