In Beirut, cops are rounding up gay men and forcing them to pay for their own torture before locking them up for up to a year.
According to reports coming out of Lebanon, this weekend a bunch of cops raided a gay-porn theater and arrested 36 men. Homosexuality is illegal in Lebanon, meaning LGBTs have no safe places to meet.
It gets worse: the arrestees were reportedly subjected to anal probing to determine whether or not they were gay. Exactly what is being “tested” in this situation is a bunch of junk science (the diameter of the rectum and whatnot, ugh), but the results can be used to convict victims and send them to prison.
Human Rights Watch calls it out as torture.
How about we take this to the next level?
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If there’s any silver lining to all this, it’s that it may trigger some much-needed reforms: Officials are speaking out against the use of anal exams, and international pressure is mounting to overturn the prohibition on homosexuality.
Dionte
This is almost unbelievable.
VP
I have to correct one sentence in this article where the author says “meaning LGBTs have no safe places to meet”. That is totally incorrect, there are a few huge gay nightclubs in Beirut, “Acid” being the largest one, a few gay beaches, and quite a few gay bars. While i find it disgusting that this raid even happened and the anal probes etc., this was a gay porn theatre, and im sure some sexual activity was going on in there, which places in States have been raided for the same reasons, but without the anal probes, etc., but if you are in a legitimate place in Lebanon, gay bars, gay clubs, and gay beaches, you are pretty much safe and authorities leave you alone, just wanted to correct that statement…….
Triple S
Regardless of what gays and lesbians have at their disposal in Lebanon, this can’t be justified by anyone. The damn Middle-East needs to move it’s arse from the 19th Century to now. Australia has an extremely large Lebanese population, and while lots of them are actually normal people, the homophobic nature runs thick. I don’t know what gay Lebanese guys are supposed to do even in a country such as Australia when almost all of their culture will give them a hard time to exist as they naturally do.
EvonCook
Did I miss something here? Just who is the hot guy in white who is pictured on the right? The “celebrity” reporter or the guy who founded Helem? And, once again, it seems really backward if not stupid to say “LGBT” in this article since, as usual, it all pertains to GAY MEN. This is the middle east that we are sending billions of dollars to and have our soldiers dying to help supposedly to foster democracy? Maybe we should just let the zionists blow them all up and be done with it.
DJ
If you’re living in the middle east and bisexual or gay, going to a porn theater that shows movies of naked men having sex or just any porn would be the LAST thing I’d do unless I had a death wish or wanted to go to prison.
DrewSF
Actually EvonCook this article has to do with bisexual and gay men, as I’m sure not all the men there were actually gay. It does not have to do with just gay men only. Don’t be so biphobic and homosexist.
Roxorz
Gays here in America might not have EVERYTHING we want but at least this crazy shiz isn’t happening.
Sean
Most educated gay Lebanese migrate to France, to which Lebanon has a cultural connection. Many gays get married in order to be able to survive in the country. As for homosexuality and Arabs, homosexual behavior is very common since to have heterosex before marriage is almost impossible. On the other hand, there is an unseen homosexual culture across the Middle East as can be read in some recent books.
B
So, what is the probe really supposed to show? My guess is that they are looking for some sort of residue such as semen which would indicate sexual activity. If so, the de facto rule is that you get in trouble if you are not a top 100% of the time (unless caught in flagrante delicto, which is unlikely).
KARUADAM
If all that great thing you usually say about the Arab, world :-(~ I don`t like to mention the facts that gay Palestinian, are getting politic asylum in Israel, but please don`t tell any fucking Christian.
F.I
This incident is very disgusting and cruel, without a doubt. however, the authour keeps calling out the Middle east for having zero gay rights when it took the States nearly 200 years to actually get there, even with the hugely diverse population that lives there. this is a Muslim country,with different laws. so instead of fitting snarks into the context, why doesnt Queerty do something productive for the gays of the Muslim countries, like actually advocating their rights in a positive way. im gay myself, living in Pakistan, but nothing is as black and white as u make it out to be in ur posts.
F.I
this is unbelievably sad and disgusting, not to mention cruel. however, i’d like the say that the authors on this site call out the middle east and all the Muslim countries, way too much for have zero gay policies. i mean yes its true, and yes it needs to be worked on, but even in a country like the States, which has a hugely diverse population, it took nearly 200 years to get there, and further 25 to legalize being gay. this is a muslim country that we’re speaking off, with different set of laws and different point of views, give them time and they might turn around. but injecting snarky comments into your posts does no one any good, so instead of that, maybe you guys can advocate gay rights IN the countries in positive way. not just rag on the countries for not being as gay tolerant as others. i mean, im gay and living in a Muslim country, i know i can use a good platform to advocate my rights, but this just makes me feel bitter about it.
F.I
wow, i posted it twice…. awkward!!! 😛
Anti homo
Homos leave lebanon, you are sick people
Bryan
Such a pity. The Middle Eastern race in general are one of the most handsome races, it’s too bad most of the country is homophobic.
SFMatt
Bryan, no they’re not. Most Caucasian Europeans are the most handsome and sexy race!
Ewan
@Anti homo: And you are swaggering, backward medieval cretin. Get off my planet, ya tit.
GHY
Yet another fine example of the great Muslim world.
Well...
It all boils down to religion. If everyone on the globe didn’t have their superstitions to justify their hatred and bigotry, they might be able to deal with such things on their own terms and at face value. Instead, they go running behind momma’s apron (or burqa or whatever)to worship the flying spaghetti monsters that get us through our day. Face it: The whole world is a pathetic lot.
Reed
@EvonCook:
The photo is of the celeb reporter
Reed
They are little better than monkeys
G!
This article is misleading, wrong and inaccurate. Worst of all are the ignorant comments left by the readers. Pure bullshiz.
Ahmad
@DJ: are u silly or what? these cinemas (which are more than 50 in Lebanon) exist since the 70’s and everyone goes there to have sex with other men…
lebanon is a great place for cruising….what happened is just because of a silly TV Show…