Re-orienting Desire, written by Joseph Massad, is an article that illustrates the contradictions in Islamic homosexual culture and gives readers insight into what it means to be homosexual in the Muslim world. There were a number of different ideas discussed throughout the article pertaining to homosexuality and the Islamic culture that helped readers to understand the current standpoint on it in the Eastern world. Some of the ideas included Western myths about homosexuality in the East, as well as realistic views on how things are and what is being done to stop the hatred and persecution homosexuals experience.
The article begins by introducing Gay International, which the author describes as "an organization with a mission to liberate Arab and Muslim "gays and lesbians" from the oppression under which they allegedly live by transorming them from practitioners of same-sex contact into subjects who identify as homosexual and gay." Yet, this mission is culturally, not an appropriate one, considering that throughout the article, we learn that homosexual practices are acceptable, yet, outward homosexuality is not.
We must first begin by realizing that "Islam is 200 years behind Christianity in terms of progress on gay issues" (p. 375). Simply because homoeroticism is deep within the cultural roots of the Islamic culture, does not mean that it is an openly accepted lifestyle in the East. Many gay Americans get confused by this, and even travel to the Muslim world or convert to Muslim in hopes of finding a "sexual paradise" (p. 365). Yet, upon arrival, it is evident that such is not the case. "Islamic cultures don't take kindly to organized homosexuality," says Lisa Power, co-secretary of the International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA). In fact, there have been mass executions of homosexuals in Iran, as well as arrests and imprisonments based solely on homosexual practice and belief. "Adult men who do not fit readily into prevailing notions of true manhood are often looked down upon and despised" (p. 365).This reality is striking due to the fact that Islamic religion includes stories of homoerotic practices. Yet, one must understand that in the East, homosexual practice and homosexuality are not one in the same. On p. 373 this is discussed breifly, stating: "just because you sleep with a member of the same sex does not mean that you are Gay...it means that you are engaging in homosexual activity. Once a relationship develops beyond sex (i.e., love) this is when the term applies." Once this line has been crossed, the homosexual individual is labeled "deviant," by his culture, which is a very interesting in terms of word choice. The word deviant is defined as "markedly departing from the accepted norm." For their deviant behavior, Muslim homosexuals are subjected to unexpected police raides, rectal exams, and even imprisonment. One could not imagine these atrocities occurring in the United States. Surely, they would be considered human rights violations. Thus, departing from the norm in Islam is actually more dangerous in terms of persecution than in the West.
For the reasons listed in the above paragraph, Gay International is actually harming rather than helping Islamic homosexuals. "It is not the same-sex sexual practices that are being repressed, but rather, the sociopolitical identification of these practices with the Western identity of gayness" that the East is cracking down on.
An interesting story I came across pertaining to the subject took place only 5 short years ago, in 2005, when two gay teenagers were hung in Iran for the "crime" of homosexuality. The young boys were given a choice of four different styles of death that included being hanged, stoned, halved by a sword, or dropped from the highest perch. The boys' defense was that "most young boys had sex with each other." This goes to show that there needs to be a distinction between the practice of homosexual intercourse as opposed to identity as a homosexual. We do not have this breach in distinction in the U.S., rather, if one engages in same-sex intercourse it is inferred that they are gay without question.
Gratefully, after being informed of the discrimination and persecution gay Muslims were recieving, Western organizations stepped to the plate in efforts to end it. Even members of Congress threatened cutoffs of U.S. aid. I must say that I am proud to come from a country thats steps up in the face of injustice. Thus, I was thankful that Massad included this information in his article.
So were those western organizations helping or hurting Iranian men and women who were targeted by the state?
ReplyDeleteFrom an ideological perspective, organization such as Gay International were harming homosexual Muslims because they did not fully grasp the cultural aspects of the Islamic religion. Yet, when injustice occurs based on homosexuality, for instance, the case of the two young boys being hung, the West steps up and takes actions against the injustice rightfully so. Thus, there is both helping and harming going on.
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