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Gay and Lesbian Life in the Middle East
University of California Press
November 2006
On Sale: November 6, 2006
264 pages ISBN: 0520250176 EAN: 9780520250178 Hardcover
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Non-Fiction
Homosexuality is a taboo subject in Arab countries. Clerics
denounce it as a heinous sin, while newspapers write
cryptically of "shameful acts." Although many parts of the
world now accept sexual diversity, the Middle East is moving
in the opposite direction. In this absorbing account,
journalist Brian Whitaker calls attention to the voices of
men and women who are struggling with gay identities in
societies where they are marginalized and persecuted by the
authorities. He paints a disturbing picture of people who
live secretive, fearful lives and who are often jailed,
beaten, and ostracized by their families, or sent to be
"cured" by psychiatrists. Whitaker's exploration of changing sexual behavior in the
Arab world reveals that--while deeply repressive prejudices
and stereotypes still govern much thinking about
homosexuality--there are pockets of change and tolerance.
The author combines personal accounts from individuals in
the region with a look at recent Arab films and novels
featuring gay characters and conducts a sensitive
comparative reading of Christian, Jewish, and Islamic
strictures around sexuality. Deeply informed and engagingly
written, Unspeakable Love draws long overdue attention to a
crucial subject.
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