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Homophobia in Target Language Countries | ||
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 Language Learning Forum : General discussion | ( Topic Closed) |  |
| Tupiniquim Senior Member Brazil Joined 6085 days ago 184 posts - 217 votes  Speaks: Portuguese* Studies: English, Russian | Message 41 of 56 12 May 2009 at 7:42pm | IP Logged | |||||
Here in Brazil it's illegal to discriminate against someone's sexual orientation. There's still some social prejudice but a homosexual shouldn't face problems in our larger cities. There are famous gay clubs in Rio de Janeiro that are often visited by celebrities and São Paulo is known to have the largest gay pride parade in the country. 2 persons have voted this message useful | ||||||
| Jeito Triglot Groupie United States Joined 5819 days ago 55 posts - 63 votes Speaks: English*, Spanish, French Studies: Mandarin, German, Italian, Portuguese | Message 42 of 56 12 May 2009 at 11:46pm | IP Logged | |||||
Michael, You must have read an out-of-date textbook. Lie-cultures have now been redesignated GOP-Republican cultures. Those cultures try to control behavior by denigrating and humiliating anyone who doesn't drink their Kool-Aid. Their spittle-flecked rants can be quite humorous, though. Cause the Republican guys who rave the loudest always get caught with their pants down the fartherest. Keep your knickers up, Jeito 5 persons have voted this message useful | ||||||
| Jeito Triglot Groupie United States Joined 5819 days ago 55 posts - 63 votes Speaks: English*, Spanish, French Studies: Mandarin, German, Italian, Portuguese | Message 43 of 56 13 May 2009 at 12:16am | IP Logged | |||||
Spanish-speaking Latin America tends to be a shame-based culture, meaning discretion in public is advised. The Andean countries are more conservative, socially than Venezuela and Argentina. Caracas used to have a very active club scene. But, unfortunately, hard economic times caused a skyrocketing crime rate. So you run the risk of getting hit in the head not for being gay, but cause they want your wallet. Outside of Brazil, Buenos Aires is probably the most open and accepting environment. Great city, lots of culture, and they party hardy. 1 person has voted this message useful | ||||||
| pmiller Account terminated Groupie Canada Joined 5676 days ago 99 posts - 104 votes Speaks: English* | Message 44 of 56 13 May 2009 at 9:42am | IP Logged | |||||
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Hmm. Interesting thread. We live in a very strange world, full of surprises.
For instance, you would think Muslim countries in general are absolute no-go areas for gay people. I read somewhere that gay people are executed in Iran, and that the religious police harass and assault guys they merely suspect of being gay - based on clothing, behavior, or even just being a young guy in a car with another young guy. And this is exactly what you'd expect when you realize that the Koran has the death penalty for homosexuality (as does the Torah/Old Testament, which explains the legacy of violent hatred of homosexuality in Jewish and Christian cultures, and its absence or relative rarity in cultures with Buddhist, Hindu or animist traditions). But then you hear that in Saudi Arabia, the very birthplace of Islam and the most orthodox Islamic country on earth, homosexual relations are not exactly uncommon (as someone mentioned in this thread). Strangely enough, even I can confirm this: I once knew a gay Laotian guy (a relative of a girlfriend) who apparently lived in Saudi Arabia for a while with a gay (Saudi?) lover (I didn't ask for clarification - I just wasn't interested enough). Who would've guessed? Still, if I were you, I wouldn't take chances in countries like these, where people are arrested, beaten, tortured, and executed every day for all kinds of things, homosexuality included. Why not stick to more enlightened/civilized/tolerant countries? I would think Western Europe, North America, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and South East Asia, especially the Philippines, Thailand, Laos and Indonesia (maybe just Bali?) would be much better, safer choices. (And have you considered Greece or Cyprus?) If you're that attracted to Arab/Middle Eastern looking guys, why not find one through gay personals or clubs in one of these countries, where even if worse comes to worse, you won't be tortured and executed? Think about it. Or maybe you have a "fatal attraction", or just a plain old death wish. If so, better that you realize it before it's too late. 2 persons have voted this message useful | ||||||
| !LH@N Triglot Senior Member Germany Joined 6823 days ago 487 posts - 531 votes Speaks: German, Turkish*, English Studies: Serbo-Croatian, Spanish | Message 45 of 56 13 May 2009 at 11:04am | IP Logged | |||||
From what I have heard, sexual relationships with a boy are very very common in Arabic countries, but I don't know to what extend this is true. But my mom once told me a story about her a friend of hers marrying with a Kuwaiti sheikh and going to Kuwait, where she found out that older men liked to have sexual relatiions with younger boys. But as I said, I don't like it.
Maybe it's just me, but I don't like the undertone of this post. I don't know if it was intended as such, but it sounds like you are saying that all Arabian/Muslim/Middle Eastern countries are sick, intolerant places, which is not true. Turkey is a very liberal, very secular and tolerant country, Bosnia (ok, it's not Middle Eastern, but it might be considered Muslim) is, too. As far as I know, Lebanon is the most liberal Arabian country, with a very active straight and gay club scene (well, at least before it was bombed back into the middle ages...). Regards, Ilhan PS: I, on a personal level, do not agree with trans- and homosexuality, but I'd like to quote Frederick the Great: "Jeder soll nach seiner Facon selig werden" 1 person has voted this message useful | ||||||
| pmiller Account terminated Groupie Canada Joined 5676 days ago 99 posts - 104 votes Speaks: English* | Message 46 of 56 13 May 2009 at 11:42am | IP Logged | |||||
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I apologize if my post upset anyone - it was certainly not my intention to offend. I do recognize that there is great variation in law and culture among Muslim countries, and that only a few actually enforce Islamic law (such as Saudi Arabia and Islamic Republic of Iran, which I was referring to). Frankly Turkey didn't even come to mind as I was composing that post, probably because in my mind Turkey is in a different category of countries precisely because it is so secular and Western-oriented. Now that you mention Turkey, I'd guess that someplace like Izmir might be a pretty safe place for someone like the original poster. But he mentioned Arabic countries, so I thought of those countries, plus Iran, which is not Arab, but does use Arabic script and has an Islamic government.
Then again, I'm sure you'd agree with me that even in the most tolerant, liberal, secular Muslim countries such as Turkey or Bosnia (or Indonesia, etc.), there is a significant segment of the population which takes Islam very seriously and therefor may be a real danger to homosexual people... right? Certainly a gay person would be less safe in a place like Ankara or eastern Turkey than in a more cosmopolitan place like Izmir or perhaps Istanbul, right? Well, I'm not gay either, but I realized a long time ago that homosexuality can't be a choice (who in their right mind would choose to be homosexual with all the stigma and prejudice and danger that confront gay people? And how can you choose who you are attracted to? I can't even choose what type of girls I'm attracted to, let alone choose to be attracted to other guys. It seems clear to me that people just realize what they're attracted to - they don't choose it.) This is so elementary, so obvious once you think about it - it amazes me that so few people take a minute or two to realize it. Once you do so, you'll agree that it's not a matter of "agreeing" or disagreeing with homosexuality. Homosexuality is a fact of life, just like race or ethnicity - it's simply the way some people are wired from birth - they can't help it - they are attracted to the same sex whereas most people are attracted to the opposite sex. And so it is a matter of understanding and acceptance, rather than "agreeing with". Best regards. EDIT: Added let alone to above paragraph - I can' believe I omitted that when I posted this - I really should've proofread that before posting - it almost changes the whole meaning of the sentence! Edited by pmiller on 21 May 2009 at 12:08am 3 persons have voted this message useful | ||||||
| !LH@N Triglot Senior Member Germany Joined 6823 days ago 487 posts - 531 votes Speaks: German, Turkish*, English Studies: Serbo-Croatian, Spanish | Message 47 of 56 13 May 2009 at 12:04pm | IP Logged | |||||
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Yes, I am very glad with what you said in your first paragraph and agree with most of what you said in your second paragraph.
But I do not know if it's a Muslim thing. See, I can imagine in the countryside in countries like Spain, or Italy, or even in the countryside of Germany, people will not be very friendly towards homosexuals. I was in the Mid-West for one year and have made the experience that there are many people who are rather aggressiv towards homosexuals. Regards, Ilhan 1 person has voted this message useful | ||||||
| MichaelJ Newbie United States Joined 5999 days ago 19 posts - 20 votes Studies: Spanish | Message 48 of 56 20 May 2009 at 7:50pm | IP Logged | |||||
Well, I'm not an "animal lover" either, but I realized a long time ago that beastiality can't be a choice (who in their right mind would choose beastiality with all the stigma and prejudice and danger that confront "animal lovers"? And how can you choose what you are attracted to? I can't even choose what type of girls I'm attracted to, choose to be attracted to other species. It seems clear to me that people just realize what they're attracted to - they don't choose it.) This is so elementary, so obvious once you think about it - it amazes me that so few people take a minute or two to realize it. Once you do so, you'll agree that it's not a matter of "agreeing" or disagreeing with beastiality. Beastiality is a fact of life, just like race or ethnicity - it's simply the way some people are wired from birth - they can't help it - they are attracted to animals whereas most people are attracted to the opposite sex. And so it is a matter of understanding and acceptance, rather than "agreeing with". Best regards. Well, I'm not a child molester either, but I realized a long time ago that pedophilia can't be a choice (who in their right mind would choose to be a pedophile with all the stigma and prejudice and danger that confront pedophiles? And how can you choose who you are attracted to? I can't even choose what type of girls I'm attracted to, choose to be attracted to children. It seems clear to me that people just realize what they're attracted to - they don't choose it.) This is so elementary, so obvious once you think about it - it amazes me that so few people take a minute or two to realize it. Once you do so, you'll agree that it's not a matter of "agreeing" or disagreeing with pedophilia. Pedophilia is a fact of life, just like race or ethnicity - it's simply the way some people are wired from birth - they can't help it - they are attracted to children whereas most people are attracted to the opposite sex. And so it is a matter of understanding and acceptance, rather than "agreeing with". Best regards. 1 person has voted this message useful |
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