Written by: J.

12.3.04

GayMiddleEast.com - Gay Time Story project.

The Arabic word "Loti" used in Syria, and eventually the Arab world, to describe a same sex attracted man. This term came from the name of prophet Lut, who was sent to people of Sodom and Gomorrah.  Obviously, the word itself has a historical meaning that makes the people nowadays feel as we "gay people "came form that era.

My story with homosexuality started very early, when I was about 6 yrs old. I was in my early classes of primary school in Syria. During that time, I heard a lot of criminal stories and parental warnings about men who rape boys. This affected me highly as I made special notions about gay people full of crime, hate, and fear. As I grew up, passing through classes with success, I changed physically and mentally, started a new level of my life, which characterized by careful exploring the gay world.

A fact that is known for every one is that internet has made the change. Internet was the real change in my life. I found that there are gay communities around the world, which made me feel that I am not alone in this world. The thing that made me see my position in Syria and its society in a new perspective.  As a man that has rights and projects.

As a result of my new view to life, I tried to identify the problem between us "gay people" and the society.  Remembering all the events, notions, and talks that passed through my life, I started to identify the problem. And finally I concluded to some points that I believe it strongly contribute to our issue in Syria.

First the faith issue. A Syrian gay might be Muslim, Christian, or Jew. All these religions consider homosexuality as a sin that must be vanished. This concept creates a great paradox of being a gay and at the same time believing in one of those religions. Therefore, gay people try to hide their identity and feel shame in their deep, in the fear of society and religion.

Second issue is the ambition. Gay people in Syria, as every one around the world, are very emotional and sensitive. However, the problem is that they do not try to use these feeling to boost their desire to let the society in Syria has a real knowledge about us.

Third issue is in silence and ignorance. In Syria, there is a city called Idlib. Many jokes is told about the people of Idlib as homosexuals, boys' lovers, and all that stuff. The paradox here is that in Syria we laugh at those jokes a lot, but then when meet a man from that town; we never talk about homosexuality seriously without strange looks and fake smiles.  So as you can see, the ignorance of the problem and the absence of real to desire to seek a solution is part of the whole issue.

At the end, the reader can feel that the responsibility is distributed among all Syrians, including gay people. I believe that blaming others and waiting them to take the first step is not the solution. Syrian gays should start thinking seriously about their future in Syria as an important block of the Syrian society fort.

© GayMiddleEast.com News

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.