By Dan Littauer, Executive Editor 16.5.11

Al-Watan news reports that a Kuwaiti school expelled two school boys after receiving persistent complaints from students’ parents that the two are gay.

The headmaster of the secondary school in Kuwait City asked them to open their school bags, Al-Watan reports.  The headmaster found, to his surprise, women’s clothes and make-up items at which point he immediately decided to expel them. 

Gay Middle East notes that even if the students are gay there is no good reason to expel them as there were no reports of behaviours that put other students at risk or disturbing their ability to study.

It is worth noting that Al-Watan persistently reports events in a sensationalist, homophobic and transphobic manner.  Almost all previous articles reporting on gays always include “surprised” discovery of “women’s clothes and make up”.  It seems then that Al-Watan is less concerned about journalistic accuracy than whipping up hysteria with a formula and stereotypes designed to outrage the reader.  From the violent comments posted in reaction to the article it is clear that Al-Watan is successful in encouraging homophobia and hatred.