Comments on Gays Targeted in Iraq Civil War

I'm not loving the mindboggling ethical myopia of a religious fundamentalist objecting to a lesbian preventing a child being used for the sex trade. Gay Iraqis are screwed no matter what happens now; both sides are in the grip not just of murderous insanity but Islamist extremism: Shi'ite extremists over here, Al Qaeda over there. Ugh. Meanwhile the US occupation is denying people visas. Get them out. Is there an escape fund?

Thousands of people are fleeing to Syria a more secular society, I dont know if LGBT folks are fleeing there, despite being a dictatorship Syria seems a bit more tolerant, which is not saying much.

I dont know the answer to this, but are Shiites more homophobic and extremist than Sunnis? What was the situation for Gays under Sadam? In Iran, a Shiite country, the situation remains extremely dangerous.

When one lives in a place where Syria is the better, the more tolerant choice...

If anyone knows of relief efforts directed to the LGBT refugees, please pass that information on here. This is the first time for a while that the Iraq news made me weep.

one thing the Shi'ites, Sunnis, Saddamists, Christians and even ORTHODOX JEWS can agree on is hating gays. The only difference is the degree of hate. In Iran, they hang 'em. In other places, they look the other way while someone else hangs 'em.

I doubt the gays were living la vida loca under Saddam, but it certainly couldn't have been worse than it is now...

Seme, some Shia are more extreme than most Sunnis, and some Sunnis are more extreme than most Shia. Al Qaeda are Sunni. Wahhabis are Sunni. The Iranian theocrats and Sadr's men are Shia. There's no monopoly on bigotry in any group.

Unfortunately, the most extreme of the most extreme are in control now, on both sides. If you are Sunni, you are now forced to throw your lot in with Al Qaeda, as they are the only ones who can protect you. If you are Shia, you must go along with the Mahdi Army for the same reason.

It's truly shocking and desperate. Healing Iraq, a blog written by an educated Sunni, is full of desperate pleas from Sunnis wanting to know "how Shia pray" so they can "pass" when they're kidnapped. Otherwise, of course, they're tortured and killed. Even in the hospitals.

This is not said lightly, but...

God save us all

Article Eli Sanders linked to has an organization to send money to in London with an address.

They should match up Iraqi lesbians with American gays, Iraqi gays with American lesbians, and have a huge wedding party. See if the federal government prefers same sex marriage or the immigration of millions of Iraqis (ie, "suspected terrorists").

Sorry, George, but people have been saying that for a long time now. Doesn't seem to have helped, does it?