At least 67 Filipino workers face prison and public lashes after being arrested at a gay party celebrating Philippine Independence Day at a Riyadh villa. Some of the men were in drag, according to Agence France Presse.
"They had alcohol and some were dressed up like women," Philippines embassy Vice Consul Roussel Reyes said. Both drinking and cross-dressing are forbidden under Saudi Arabia's conservative Islam based sharia laws, and both could bring up to six months in prison and lashes. None were charged with homosexual acts, a much more serious charge under Saudi law, Reyes said. The men have all been released to their employers while formal charges are drawn up, he added."
The Philipine Star adds the men face up to 50-60 lashes for "imitating women" and "display of homosexuality."
Two similar cases happened last year summer.
Thanks NATHAN JAMES!
Just when you think we have it really bad over here. Life is relative, my friends.
Posted by: Carlos | 21 June 2009 at 20:14
Wow. Very very not good.
Saudi Arabia and the oil states keep foreign workers in almost slavery. Plus the Sharia law is just brutal toward LGBTs. God bless them.
Posted by: Naiya | 21 June 2009 at 20:57
In Iran, gays are hanged. In the Kingdom, it's not much better. The plight of LGBTs around the world is truly sobering and frightening. There is still so much to be done to address sickening human-rights abuses (disguised as laws of the State) against gays and lesbians all over the globe. I suppose it's too much to hope for that one day, someone like President Obama will stand up and say "the United States is a freedom-loving country whose core principle is kindness and liberty for all. We will not condone the horrific abuses suffered by gays and lesbians living in subjugation anywhere in the world."
Well, I can dream, can't I?
Posted by: Nathan James | 21 June 2009 at 21:19
In response to gays particularly black gays in the US nonchalant attitude towards foreign gays:
But you have to realize that many of these homosexuals
Do not want better.
Do not want to be treated as first class citizens.
They have internalized heretosupremacy so much
That they care not that EVEN if they wanted to
Many of them could not adopt a child
Many of them could not get married
Many of them could not have power of attorney should their partner die.
Hell they don't even see their gay as a positive or respectable part of who they are
Half of them see themselves as sinners.
The other half see themselves as sexual deviants comparable to incest and pedophilia.
So how can you expect them to compare about the plight of someone oceans away
When they don't even care about themselves?
And don't you dare try to tell them they are being oppressed.
They will fight you tooth and nail to tell you how masculine and accepted they are.
How well they blend into a hegemonic landscape.
Like my good girl Harriet Tubman said when asked how she felt about saving as many slaves as she did.
I WOULD HAVE SAVED A LOT MORE TOO IF ONLY THEY HAD KNOWN THEY WERE SLAVES
FAMU, this comment almost made me tear up. This is one of the best comments I have read all week. You laser-focused on the apathy in our community. I am going to try to post this tomorrow. You can teach a thing or hundred to some of the older brothers who don't understand they have a stake in this world. -RM
Posted by: Mr. FAMU | 21 June 2009 at 21:45
@ FAMU: "Hell they don't even see their gay as a positive or respectable part of who they are Half of them see themselves as sinners. The other half see themselves as sexual deviants comparable to incest and pedophilia."
You are DROPPING KNOWLEDGE my brotha! Work it out, work!
Too many of us are accustomed to mediocrity and ask for nothing. We could care less when we are treated like nothing and see others who are treated worst (sp?) than that.
Sing out Brotha FAMU! Sing out!
Posted by: Sean Beasley | 21 June 2009 at 23:38
What FAMU said.
Posted by: Jai | 22 June 2009 at 03:46
FAMU....
Kick the knowledge!!! :-)
Posted by: Kmark | 22 June 2009 at 10:59
I hope these men can make it out of Saudi Arabia without punishment. And we know so little about the lives and troubles of our 'Family' in other nations around the world! Thanks Rod for your efforts to capture international news whenever it comes over the wires
Posted by: ReggieH | 22 June 2009 at 16:52
Everyone here know the punishment if you are caught. And there is no way a party that size is not going to be noticed..The Night here has a thousand eyes...The party was not a wise move...
Posted by: DW Jazzlover | 23 June 2009 at 02:26