Palestinian gays flee to Israel

[Herschel]

A number of gay Palestinian men are risking their lives to cross the border into Israel, claiming they feel safer among Israelis than their own people.
According to some estimates, there are now 300 gay Palestinian men secretly living and working in Israel.

Their willingness to live there - despite the risk of being detained and deported as a security threat - is due to Palestinian attitudes towards gay men, they claim.

One 22-year-old gay man who fled from Gaza into Israel four years ago told BBC World Service's Outlook programme he was almost killed when his family found out about his sexuality.

He says that when he was 18, he was caught with his boyfriend by his brother.

" brought a stick and hit us," he said. "He tied us up with an iron rope and went to call my dad, and tell my partner's. Then he came back and hit us again."

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3211772.stm

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This is not the proper forum to discuss their personal practices. However, it is telling when these homosexuals feel safer in Israel than among their own. As progressives, which society should we support?

[Darranar]

1. On the single issue of gay rights?

Should we ignore the oppression of the Palestinians because some among them treat gays badly?

That's like saying that we should ignore terrorist attacks on the US because right-wing fundamentalist whackos attack gays constantly in our country.

[Equinox]

2. I think this is the funniest thread I've ever seen!

Hehehehehehehahahahahahahhahahahah

Good Grief! Grasping at straws, Herschel?

Every society has been severe towards homosexuals. Israel, I'm sure is no different!

[Resistance]

3. one does wonder

why Herschel felt it necessary to introduce "their personal practices" to the debate in the first place.

[Resistance]

4. what misery

these men must have to live through; I feel so sorry for them. Despised for their sexual preference in one society; rejected in the other for their ethnicity. How awful.

[Rowdyboy]

5. Truly, according to the link....

both sides blackmail and threaten gays horribly. There are no good guys here, only shameful bigotry.

[xchrom]

6. do christian fundies here

treat gay people so much diferently?
do orthodox jews treat gay people so much diferently?
i have no idea what fantasy this poster is talking about.
clarification is needed -- perhaps israelies stoning each other for the infraction of some obscure religous law.

[rini]

7. sorry but you're

about 2000 years behind the times.

[drdon326]

8. Terrible.

whay about live and let live.

[Name removed]

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