Our gay brothers and sisters against a rotten morality

Foreward


In a Beirut suburb last week, police raided a movie theater and arrested all 36 patrons on suspicion of homosexuality. All men were subjected to an anal probe to prove their homosexuality before most of them were released. It is not clear what happened to those who were not released. Homosexuality is still viewed as a vice in most parts of the Middle East although the numbers of outspoken gays and lesbians are on the rise and LGBT groups are forming across the Arab world to protect the rights or their communities. You can read more about this story here: http://www.albawaba.com/editorchoice/lebanon-anal-probes-gay-436850

Our gay brothers and sisters against a rotten morality


It matters very little how extremely homophobic some people are or how judgmental they act towards gays and lesbians. How derogatory anyone can be in describing or treating the gay community matters even less. That is simply because despite the historic discrimination against them and the bad repute around their lifestyle and sexual choices, they exist and will continue to exist in every home, every neighborhood and every city. They are our sons and daughters, our sisters and brothers, our cousins, our neighbors; they are even our mothers and fathers and their parents and grandparents before them.

Who are we to judge what a person’s sexual orientation is, or even worse, who are we to dictate how people should behave in the privacy of their own home or personal space? What are the morality credentials of those who ordered the raid on a movie theater in Lebanon and those who arrested the theaters patrons and forced them into the most invasive and insulting probes, violently fondling their private parts to “scientifically” determine whether or not they’re gay? In the absence of any crime or breakage of the law, to order such an invasion of human privacy in this day and age, a person must be either completely out of touch or completely out of their mind.

The hope is that this latest episode of human rights abuse has woken up the dinosaurs that are supposed to be “watchful over the citizen’s security.” With this unfounded arrest and probe, you have proven to be the worst danger that looms in the horizon. Your diligence is a burden for the citizens, your caring is a threat to them, and your protection of the law is a violation of your citizens right to privacy.

When was the last time you brought a rapist to jail and conducted any tests on them to prove their guilt and make sure they face justice.

When was the last time you arrested a hit and run criminal and brought him/her to justice?

When was the last time you performed a selfless act in the name of serving the people you are supposed to serve?

Morality is a very serious issue and accusing someone of immorality is a major responsibility. Before you accuse, look around you and check what kind of family you have and which side of your brand of morality they are on.

Homosexuality is a fact of life. In Lebanon and the rest of the Middle East, there has been a major increase in the past few years in the number of homosexuals “coming out” and speaking up or simply living their life openly as gays and lesbians. Vicious acts such as the movie theater raid and arrests in Lebanon only make things worse because they encourage underground activities and create potentially dangerous situations to gays and eventually their families.

For those who claim no one they know is gay, let me say with confidence: You are either in denial or blind to the truth. Watch out how you describe homosexuals and how you treat them, because the gay person might be closer to you than you ever thought. S/he might be someone you idolize and swear by. S/he might be your son or daughter, sister or brother. S/he could be your favorite co-worker, you gym buddy, or your best friend.