Who needs identities and labels?

             Reading Re-Orienting Desire: The Gay International and the Arab World, by Joseph Massad, gave me so much to say about this topic that I do not even know where to start. Massad’s in depth section of his book gave many different views and opinions of the Arab and Muslim’s world of sexuality and orientation. The difference between the western world, with the Gay International organizations, and the Muslim and Arab world, without any form of collaboration, could not be more different. The most apparent differences I believe in these two areas are labels. The western society is trying to “liberate Arab and Muslim ‘gays and lesbians’ from the oppression under which they allegedly live by transforming them from practitioners of same-sex contact into subjects who identify as homosexual and gay” (362). The fact that most men in Arab cultures do not consider themselves gay, even if they take part in “homosexual activities,” is what makes our culture so unlike theirs. Especially in America, where we have become one of the leading countries with gay pride, including organizations, parades, memorabilia, and boycotts.

            The problem I have with some of these ideas is that it partially seems like it is the Gay International’s way or no way at all. Who are they to change the lives and societies that are working quite well? If the society is functioning in a successful way, why do we get to go in and mess with it? As later in the chapter we see that the liberation they are trying to achieve only ends up in more oppression for Muslims and Arabians. It seemed like their culture was very accepting of males partaking in homosexual activities and leading a normal life with a wife and family. But, As’ad AbuKhalil pointed out that the western society’s influence instilled homophobia in the Middle East. This is not a problem with identity and labels. Earlier in time, homosexuals held high positions in the government and religion. It is almost like America and Islamic countries flip-flopped views.

            I can also see why the Gay International has a positive effect on our society and why they think they are helping the Middle East. The rapid change that has happened in our own society is apparent, from gay marriage to an overall acceptance of homosexuality. My friends and I joke all the time that gay people are taking over the world (maybe this is just our view from a theatre perspective). But, I think that this growing population is due to the higher level of acceptance. I know many older men, who have left their wife and kids, revealing they were gay. I think I know at least five cases of this and they were in their forties to fifties, which is many years of repression! I have also been broken up for another man and I have had a guy fall in love with me who was physically attracted to men but kept repressing the urge. With the Gay International taking their place in the world I think there was a rough transition for America, but now men and/or women are coming out at an earlier age and are comfortable with themselves. Most of all, they know they are safe. This, in turn, will lead to fewer divorces after 20 years of marriage, less heartbreak, and an unrepressed world. All of the homosexuals that are all of a sudden coming out of the woodwork have been repressed for all these years and are finally being liberated.

            The difference with the Arabic and Islamic world is they apparently do not want to be liberated and there is little interest in even claiming their true identities. Maybe a world is better without any identities, without any judgment? In America, if a man has sex with a man, they are undoubtedly gay. But, in the Middle East they are still straight. Can the Middle Eastern man have his cake and eat it too? Can they have all their desires and a family too?

            Another interesting point that popped out to me is that the Gay International claims to be “following in the footsteps of the white Western women’s movement” (361) and women’s liberation. But, in the Middle East as Stephen O. Murray points out that the women are “segregated and tightly controlled” (371), which reminded me of the limited rights of women in that culture. Do women have to be liberated first before homosexuals can? That is how it worked in our culture. Also, if the women had a say maybe they would not be ok with their husbands’ involvement with other men, which would force them to pick an identity. If women had a voice, what would they say? I know many women in America would consider being with anyone else cheating and would leave.

            I can see the reason for claiming to be a homosexual and getting protected by the Gay International. But maybe we cannot force our identities onto other cultures, as Faisal Alam claims “Islam is 200 years behind Christianity in terms of the progress on gay issues” (375). So maybe we should give them a chance to catch up and then lend a helping hand. 


Ashley Burger