Two men in Morocco have been arrested after participating in a gay kiss video that went viral in the notoriously homophobic country.
The video shows two male silhouettes kissing inside a classroom and sparked outrage in the country, which led to the investigation and arrest of the two men. “Sexual deviancy” between two members of the same sex is grounds for harsh punishment under Moroccan law, and the men are currently in police custody while awaiting a verdict that is scheduled for the end of the week.
The men face a fine of around $120 and up to three years in jail.
Morocco has been a haven for antigay sentiment in recent years. One gay tourist was arrested for “homosexual acts,” and human rights activists have tried to pressure the country to ease its homophobic laws.
How about we take this to the next level?
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Gays remain in danger in many African countries, as ISIS soldiers have reportedly killed dozens of suspected gays in Syria, and have taken to targeting them via social media profiles.
We’re glad that these bold men keep pushing the envelope in places where it’s far more dangerous to be gay, though we’re beyond ready for these countries to join the rest of us in 2016.
Brian L. Moore
I hate to say it but WTF were they thinking ð??? hello ð??? ur in Morocco guys ð?¤? what the hell did you think was gonna happen! If you’re doing this to shine a light on the injustice that happens in their country, then you’ve accomplished your goal! But you’re still in jail too. So I guess you could call that a “win/lose” proposition. Well played I guess. I feel terrible for what the LGBT community goes through in other countries, so all I can say is “I ain’t never going to Morocco anytime soon”
Will Glitzern
At least we’re free from this in the U.S., even if things aren’t the greatest here…
ProfessorMoriarty
PSSST! Hey Rob, I suggest that you check a map the next time you write an article about events in an overseas country. Morocco is located in the northwest corner of Africa, not the Middle East.
JerseyMike
@ProfessorMoriarty: PSSST!! Thank you!!!
Glücklich
@ProfessorMoriarty:
@JerseyMike:
Eh, all those oooga-boooga countries are the same.
Now if you’ll excuse me I need to brush up on my Latin for a swing through Latin America later this year.
JerseyMike
@Glücklich: R@cist and stup!d much??
Glücklich
@JerseyMike:
Can’t recognize irony much?
JerseyMike
@Glücklich: LMAO… I’m sorry.. a bit slow this morning but got it after I read it again.. PSST! sorry!!
Aromaeus
It’s sad how many people think places like Morocco and Egypt are in the middle east.@Glücklich: You made my day, thanks!
Bryguyf69
@Aromaeus wrote: “t’s sad how many people think places like Morocco and Egypt are in the middle east.”
===
Er, by all modern definitions, Egypt IS in the Middle East! The region extends into Africa via Egypt. In fact, Cairo is recognized as the largest capital city of the Middle East. The Wikipedia article even begins, “The Middle East (also called the Mid East) is a transcontinental region centered on Western Asia and Egypt…”
And FYI, “Middle East” should be capitalized since it is the name of a region. DUH!!!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_East
Bryguyf69
@ProfessorMoriarty wrote: “Morocco is located in the northwest corner of Africa, not the Middle East.”
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Am I missing something? Where did the writer say that Morocco is in the Middle East? Either you’re hallucinating, I’m blind or the writer changed his article after your post.
Bryguyf69
@Aromaeus wrote: “It’s sad how many people think places like Morocco and Egypt are in the middle east.”
====
What are you talking about? As I point out above, Egypt is indeed in the Middle East. Furthermore, where did the writer say that Morocco is in the Middle East? Even if there was an initial mistake, it was no longer there by the time you posted your comment on 1/13/16 at 11:12am. I know because I was reading the article around 11am.
joeyty
From small acorns great oaks grow. Who knows yet ? Maybe these guys have been brave enough to start somethng.
Bryguyf69
$120 is probably a lot of money in Morocco so gays in wealthier nations should help pay off the fine, and possibly help with legal fees.
Glücklich
@Bryguyf69 wrote: Too many posts.
The article did in fact originally read “Middle Eastern” right where it now says “African”.
Geography is not Queerty’s forte: this is the same web site that incorrectly placed Fort Greene (or was it Williamsburg?) in Queens in a story a few months ago and I seem to recall another one on here where they fell apart on a European location, too.
Hussain-TheCanadian
This is horrible; Morocco was such a tolerant place for gay people – The Arab world needs a gay and a feminist movement; this insanity needs to stop and it cannot stop if the culture and religious interpretation is not taken on directly.
More power to our gay brothers and sisters in Morocco!!
Bryguyf69
@Glücklich: Well, at least they took your advice and corrected the blog. For some strange reason, I also noticed that they changed the photo for the article, “Conservative Students Furious That University Is Hosting Event On How To Sodomize Overweight Men.” It went from an overweight man to a morbidly obese man whose boobies exceed those on most women. For better or worse, it’s nice to know that Queerty articles are not static.
Benjamin López Salazar
These men are heroes.
Sansacro
@Glücklich: As Bryguyf9 notes and proves, Egypt is still the Mid-East. Mid-East peace talks. Anyone remember those? Probably not. . .
crowebobby
Amazing, as Morocco was a gay Mecca for centuries. See “Prick Up Your Ears” for an absolutely realistic depiction of Tangiers in the 50’s.
Glücklich
@Sansacro:
Not sure why we’re still on about Egypt at all. The article does not mention Egypt; another commentor did. Egypt could be on Pluto for all I care. I’d love to visit if it ever simmers down, though.
barkomatic
Every time this happens, I think the U.S. should offer refuge to victims of governmental homophobic oppression. At least, that’s my dream which I know isn’t gonna happen.
To all those that say these guys are stupid–do you think the gay activists that got arrested over the past several decades so that you could openly love your partner and even marry him think its stupid?
Billysees
@joeyty:
” From small acorns great oaks grow. Who knows yet ? Maybe these guys have been brave enough to start somethng. ”
A good possibility.
ProfessorMoriarty
As several people have pointed out, the author snuck in an edit without noting the change. Basic journalistic standards are nowhere to be found in Queerty’s wheelhouse.
ProfessorMoriarty
And the sneaky edit caused ANOTHER geographical error to be introduced. The way that the penultimate paragraph is worded makes it sound like Syria is located on the African continent. It’s not. Syria IS in the Middle East.
I give up.
Chris
That two gay men can be arrested for kissing is simply outrageous. I do not care about any nation’s cultural backgrounds, religious beliefs, or any other excuses that are used to justify these sorts of actions. IMHO, gay folk should boycott those nations and we should reduce international assistance to them until they start to get their acts in order.
Merv
@Hussain-TheCanadian: If that Arab feminist movement refused to criticize Islam like the Western one does, I’m not sure it would do any good.
o.codone
This has NOTHING TO DO WITH ISLAM. Nothing to do with Sharia law. It’s just a bunch of homophobes. Tell the real truth about this. It’s Islam, hating gay men.