What is it like for LGB people in your corner of the world?

submitted by julesburm1891 from self.LGBDropTheT

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[–]haveanicedaytoo💗💜💙 15 insightful - 1 fun15 insightful - 0 fun16 insightful - 1 fun -  (2 children)

We are terrified of coming out. I will never come out here. (Muslim country.) Many people, especially educated ones and ones that aspire to be western have positive opinions about LGB people, but the government is very scary. They're not going to break down your door and arrest you for being LGB, but if you are unlucky, or they feel like you are promoting LGB lifestyle, especially to children, they will find some reason to make your life miserable/arrest you. Uneducated neighbors/relatives are also a problem. They will see you the same as a pedophile or prostitute or mentally ill.

It also has to do with the fact that sex-life is VERY PRIVATE here, so it's weird for anyone to be announcing it to relatives/neighbors in the first place. Like why are you advertising this? It's not information anyone wants to know about you. The fact that you want people to know marks you as a red flag. Same-sex cannot get married here, but same-sex tourists can come, so long as they aren't making out in public, (but men+women couple aren't allowed to do that with each other either so...)

[–]julesburm1891[S] 4 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 0 fun5 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

So, you’re saying no one is public about sex-life stuff, so announcing you have sexual interests would be weird. Okay, I can rationalize that. (I had a good friend growing up who was Muslim and once told me that seeing kissing in a movie for her family was like sex scene for basic American families. So, the concept does make some sense.)

But, you’re also saying that that if someone didn’t “come out” and just started dating a member of the same sex, people would see them as pedophile/mentally ill and the police might harass them? That, I can’t rationalize and it makes me sad.

[–]haveanicedaytoo💗💜💙 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

But, you’re also saying that that if someone didn’t “come out” and just started dating a member of the same sex, people would see them as pedophile/mentally ill and the police might harass them? That, I can’t rationalize and it makes me sad.

Oh no, that would be if they DID come out. If you announce you are LGBT it's like you are asking for trouble. It's like, HEY, PAY ATTENTION TO ME! I WANT SOME DRAMA! If they didn't come out and just started dating secretly, everyone would just do their best to assume that the person and their 'special friend' are just really close best friends. Like sometimes you will hear of some nice lady who lives with her friend in an apartment with a bunch of cats, and the poor dears, neither of them was able to find a husband, but it's alright, at least they have each other. But no one will assume they are a lesbian couple, but... they totally are, they just keep it secret.

It is kind of a "don't ask/don't tell" mentality, now that I think of it. People are very eager to assume you are straight, even if you are the most flaming drag queen, as long as you don't say you are LGB out loud.