A Year Ago Today

Memphis Blu
July 19 2006, 3:45AM

The great irony about middle eastern countries, never ceases to amaze me. I have lived in and around these places for almost 5 years now, and the tragic double standard you face is that a majority of the men here have homo tendencies and I'm not speaking of their traditions either. I have met a lot of dignitaries and proprietors of large businesses and they try to hook up with you the first chance they get. It is sad to see and know that these things actually go on, and the fact that a majority of the clergy that support the laws are the main ones who get down...

Harry Frazier
July 19 2006, 9:12AM

I recall this stort a year ago and it is so difficult for me to grasp how this is possible. How could "teenagers" be executed simply for being gay?? This is so alien to me. I understand there is cultural distain for gay people and we struggle for our rights here in the U.S. but this is different. This is government and REILIGIOUS sanctioned, public executions of YOUNG PEOPLE!!! This is alien...this is not human

Kenneth Winfrey
July 19 2006, 11:43AM

We certainly share the most significant aspects of this kind of oppression with the general population of Black people. While I can see where there were clearly differences in the struggle we had as Black people for civil rights, how can this be much more different from that of what James Cameron, founder of America's Black Holocaust Museum barely even lived to talk about?

Derrick from Philly
July 19 2006, 12:32PM

As much as I despise the Bush Administration's military aggression in the Middle East, especially Iraq, the Muslim fundamentalist are just as dangerous. They may be more hypocritical and ruthless than Christian and Jewish fundamentalist(although we don't know what kind of oppression would occur if the Evangelicals ever gained total control here). The Iranian government is run by religious fundamentalist lunatics; and the other Islamic countries by greedy, hypocritical dictators and royal families. But these oppressors must be overturned by their own people, and international pressure/sanctions. We should not be wasting young American lives for the benefit of corrupt American politicians in league with greedy oil companies and unscrupulous defense contractors.

Mad Professah
July 19 2006, 1:41PM

Thanks for covering this issue, Keith! Having an international perspective on queer issues is extrememly important. At my own blog I have been promoting awareness of this July 19 anniversary of Iran's execution of gay teens for awhile now. I'm not sure if any protests are going on in Los Angeles, but I do know there will be a big one in New York today.

Andres Duque
July 19 2006, 1:52PM

There's additional information on two events taking place this evening in NYC at my blog, as well as about a public dispute that has broken out about the nature of the hangings - which has pitted US-based international human rights organizations HRW and IGLHRC against the UK's Peter Tatchell of OutRage! who originally called for these actions.

Shabaka
July 19 2006, 3:30PM

Thanks for sharing this, Keith and congrats again for your gold medal. Now, as much as I agree with most of the demands put forth by protesters, I disagree with the last one. We all know how dictatorships work. "Don't start none, won't be none". If we were to wait for Iranian people, straight or gay to make change themselves
said change will never come. Just take a look at Darfur.
Nothing has palpable has been done despite shoutings from the international community or the presence of a small portion of the AU (African union) troops. So in my opinion and I don't pretend that the US knows better in terms of democracy than other countries, however it's within its responsabilities to "rescue" anyone who's being tortured, oppressed or lynched by their own authorities, just the same way a big brother wouldn't sit by and just watch his younger sister being abused by unscrupulous husband. Just my two cents.

Jennifer
July 19 2006, 4:24PM

I cried like a baby when I read about that last year. I just knew that somebody - ANYBODY! - was going to come to their senses and let those boys live.

Stuffed Animal
July 19 2006, 5:21PM

Fundamentalism is the same, no matter what variety it comes in: Christian, Muslim, Judaic. What happened to those poor boys is a preview of what we Gay people in the United States can expect if the Pat Robertson types ever gain complete control of our government. Religious Fundamentalism must be challenged at every turn! We cannot have a "live and let live" attitude about Bible bigots when their main objective is to wipe us off the face of the Earth.

DDC
July 19 2006, 5:22PM

Actually, by most accounts these two teenagers were NOT executed for being gay- but for sexually ASSAULTING 13yr old, who just happened to be a boy. What, they were supposed to be let off the hook for rape just because the rape was gay??? Political correctness run amok!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahmoud_Asgari

Jen, dahling, you cried like a baby for nothin'.

theeunuch3
July 19 2006, 7:32PM

There has to be some universal outcry over the treatment, or mistreatment, of our brothers and sisters in the life. The demonstrations in 25 cities are a beginning, but certainly there is more we can do.
The traditions and beliefs of some countries must be overcome with common sense and love, not hatred for those who are different from you.
My next observation is: There are those right here in the US who would, if they could, impose death on us. They already use their moral judgement to hang us. If some had their way, we would be hanged publicly.

Steve
July 20 2006, 10:58AM

It was sickening when it happened, and it makes me sick again now. Fundamentalism is fundamentally dangerous.

Pheonix from Jamaica
July 20 2006, 7:34PM

I wish they had something like this for Jamaica. Although there are no public executions here, it is the norm to be harrassed by the society, including the police, if you are thought to be homosexual. The music alone should be an indication to the level of homophobia here.
Being a gay Jamaican is a struggle. On a daily basis I battle within myself with the decision of whether or not I should leave this homophobic pit or continue to wear my mask so I can enjoy the beauty of the only place I know, and the family and friends that I would miss.

Stuffed Animal
July 21 2006, 9:03AM

The Wikipedia article cited does not offer proof that the teenagers were executed for rape. In fact, it casts considerable doubt on that claim. I smell a cover-up.