This may seem like a stupid question, but how do the governments of Middle Eastern/African and such countries outlaw gay sex and relationships? There's no way they can track what people do in their private bedrooms... so what's the point?
Historically, not many people get arrested for sodomy for that reason. Mostly, they pursue people in underground clubs and bars, regardless if they're actually engaged in the act at the time of their arrest...essentially, they're arrested for being gay to begin with. Also, sodomy accusations make for a popular method of character assassination. Obviously, it's impossible to police people in their bedrooms, which is why most consensual activity goes unnoticed.
While they can't track people in their bedrooms, governments usually outlaw any public display of showing any form of affection to the same sex in public. In many of the Middle East countries, homosexuals live 'underground' so to speak. But in some countries, if you say something to a neighbour, or if a neighbour suspects something, and should that neighbour be loyal to the regime, the chances are there that the police will show up at the door. In some countries, you will have government informers in public areas, just waiting for someone to do something wrong or that is seen against the law. There were cases where police have raided bars or focal points for the LGBT population and imprisoned people for being there. In some cases, the way people act or what they say is used to show that they are homosexual and used as an excuse to sentence them to life in prison or worse.
It is basically enforced through the fear that you will be found out; these countries don't check everyone's houses during the night to try and find homosexuals, but they will prosecute you if they find out 'through the grapevine' that you are gay and then may investigate further. It pretty much works the same way that any law is enforced. e.g. drug laws, there aren't police at every street corner that check people's pockets for drugs, but they investigate an individual if they have information that they have drugs. For example, Uganda is trying to pass a law that would make it illegal for someone to not report to the authorities if they knew someone was gay.
The same way America had sodomy illegal in half the states just decade ago. It's either you're caught, or the place you're at gets raided. In the US that's what led to the Stonewall Riots and the LGBT Civil Rights Movement. At some point in the future, it'll be legal in those nations. You've just got to give them time to understand it. They haven't been exposed to any of the things the west has, and their cultures are heavily influenced by religion (Islam/Catholicism in Africa, Islam in Middle East), so they just need to get to a turning point in their society. Clearly that's not something they are yet able to understand and handle. All other nations can do is offer asylum or condemn it when nations go too far with the laws.
Look at the prevailing attitudes in Africa and the middle east, and you will see. In fairness, it's not just homosexuality that is illegal and persecuted for stupid reasons in the middle east. Try finding equal rights for shi'ites in Saudi Arabia or Qatar, or Sunnis in iran. I also feel that 10 years from now, some countries in the region will probably have decriminalized it. (already legal in parts of africa, Jordan, turkey and iraq(not that that helps a gay Iraqi avoid persecution)) Soon, countries like lebanon, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, tunisia etc will probably legalize it, as will most of Africa. ---------- Post added 14th Feb 2012 at 04:38 PM ---------- And yes, Tunisia is in Africa I know, lol. ---------- Post added 14th Feb 2012 at 04:41 PM ---------- The point is because it is "un-African", "un-natural", "un-Christian" and "un-Islamic" according to most people in these areas, so they like these laws.
Don't plan to. It's not like some magical rainbow is gonna spread over the Middle East and spread human rights. Even the Arab Spring isn't doing much to change that.
The Arab spring will make things worse, as Islamists rise as leaders. However, once the populations of tese countries have an "oh shit look at the Iranian revolution that created THAT" thought, they'll probably become better places for lgbt people (I'm an optimist though ). ---------- Post added 14th Feb 2012 at 06:01 PM ---------- Better places for lgbt + other minorities, I should say. The Christians are having a tough time in Egypt now.
Up to relatively recently, sodomy was prosecuted in parts of the United States, as you can read in the background to Lawrence v. Texas (Lawrence v. Texas - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) Speeches from Ban-Ki Moon and Hillary Clinton last year make me hopeful that in the course of the coming twenty years, persecution of homosexuality will be treated much more seriously by international bodies.
I don't know, wouldn't the policy cause a sort of witch-hunt? Gay and even straight people would all have to be careful not to be preceived as being gay. Even the straight men and women have to be even "straighter"... seems stupid to me
Often it comes down to malicious accusations. If it's illegal and someone accuses you then that could be grounds to raid the house late at night and see who's there... that definitely happened here when it was illegal (only about thirty years ago). I've heard of things such as the colour or your underwear (Egypt) or manner of talking (parts of Africa) being used as "evidence" to justify arrest and imprisonment. From there the worst case scenario is being tortured into confessing. There are also places where rumours turn into murders. On top of that there are plenty of countries where it's technically not illegal but gets prosecuted under other laws such as public decency or offending religion. Basically if you get accused you're screwed.
