New York Times
April 8, 2009
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/08/world/middleeast/08gay.html?hp

Iraq’s Newly Open Gays Face Scorn and Murder
By Timothy Williams and Tareq Maher

BAGHDAD - The relative freedom of a newly democratic Iraq and the recent improvement in security have allowed a gay subculture to flourish here. The response has been swift and deadly.

In the past two months, the bodies of as many as 25 boys and men suspected of being gay have turned up in the huge Shiite enclave of Sadr City, the police and friends of the dead say. Most have been shot, some multiple times. Several have been found with the word “pervert” in Arabic on notes attached to their bodies, the police said. (more…)

Homosexual culture blamed on foreign support

Gay seminar stirs outrage in Morocco

http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2009/03/19/68776.html

Thursday, 19 March 2009

Rabat (Hassan al-Ashraf)Outrage swept across Morocco following a gay association’s announcement of a planned seminar on sexual problems.

The seminar entitled “Gender and Sexuality,” is set to be held in April and will tackle sensitive issues that people are too shy to discuss for religious and social reasons, said Mariam Benebodallah, media spokesperson for the Moroccan homosexual association Kif Kif.“The seminar will host experts and lecturers who will present their points of view about how Moroccans can develop their sex life,” she told AlArabiya.net.”We will tackle the issues at the seminar with extreme caution, and we are not trying to provoke anyone.” Spokesperson for the Moroccan homosexual association (more…)

Gay rights activists denounce violence and stand up for sexual diversity

Alexandra Sandels, NOW Contributor , February 23, 2009

Hundreds of people armed with rainbow flags and signs denouncing violence and discrimination against homosexuals and other minority groups in Lebanon gathered at Beirut’s Sodeco square amid pouring rain on Sunday afternoon for a demonstration.

The event, the first of its kind in the Arab world according to the organizers, was staged by the Beirut-based Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Queer (LGBTIQ) support organization Helem, and also featured representatives from Lebanese rights groups Kafa, KAFA, TYMAT and SIDC.

Twenty-six year old Maya, holding a sign reading, “Feminists Against Violence” told NOW Lebanon she had come to the demonstration to give a “statement.” (more…)

Religious Knesset members convene in bid to thwart Gay Pride Parade in Jerusalem

A group of mostly religious and ultra-Orthodox Knesset members convened at parliament Wednesday, declaring that “the Gay Pride Parade in Jerusalem is intolerable.”

The pride parade in the capital is scheduled to be held on June 20th, prompting the MKs to convene in a bid to thwart it.

The special meeting included MKs from National Union-NRP, Shas and from United Torah Judaism. The National Union-NRP’s Uri Ariel, who initiated the meeting, was disappointed by the absence of Arab MKs and by the presence of only one secular Knesset member. (more…)