Gay Moroc: The experience is very different for Morocns and foreigners.

Contents:

• GAY-IENDLY: MARRAKECH FOR HOMOSEXUALS
• DOZENS OF GAY MEN ARE OUTED MOROC AS PHOTOS ARE SPREAD ONLE
• MOROCNS’ GAY PRI MARCH AIMS TO RVE OUT NEW SPACE OM A DISTANCE
• GAY MARRAKH
• WHAT’S IT LIKE TO BE GAY … MOROC?
• GAY PRI CALENDAR

GAY-IENDLY: MARRAKECH FOR HOMOSEXUALS

Moroc has been and remas a popular statn for LGBTQ+ travelers spe beg an Islamic untry where homosexualy is illegal and punishable by law. Homosexualy is seen by most of the populatn as a threat to the “tradnal valu” that support the expectatn of heterosexual norms and Mlim teachgs.

As a nservative Mlim untry where homosexualy is illegal, there aren’t any official “gay hot spots” or LGBTQ+ celebratns. That’s not to say that gay-iendly bars, rtrants, night clubs or beach do not exist. In urban centers like Tangier, Marrakech and Agadir, ’s possible to fd gay-iendly acmodatns and spots that wele a mix of gay and straight visors.

Travelg to an Islamic untry and experiencg the magic of the Thoand and One Nights together – as a homosexual uple? Even though Marrakech’s clubs and hotels do not openly e labels such as “gay” or “gay-iendly” for advertisg, is the new “Pk Cy”, havg overtaken the formerly ternatnal zone of Tanger. To beg wh: Acrdg to Morocn law, homosexual acts are illegal and will be punished severely.

DOZENS OF GAY MEN ARE OUTED MOROC AS PHOTOS ARE SPREAD ONLE

Near Rabat, for example, two young Morocns were sentenced to four months imprisonment each 2013 bee of homosexual ntacts.

Strongly fluenced by relign and patriarchal stctur, Morocn society is characterized by tradnal valu, and is, th, rather homophobic.

MOROCNS’ GAY PRI MARCH AIMS TO RVE OUT NEW SPACE OM A DISTANCE

Neverthels, homosexualy is tolerated to the greatt possible extent, as far as ’s lived out discreetly.

GAY MARRAKH

They are not gay, but munitg wh their iends the tradnal manner. Hetero — as well as homo — or bisexual upl should be discreet and save livg out their passns for the privacy of the riad.

In spe of the reprsive ndns, a gay scene has grown Marrakech. Clubs and night life for a gay dience.

Soon, the word of a gay night life the South-Morocn imperial cy spread. The top addrs is, whout a doubt, Le Diamant noir, which is rather gay than gay-iendly durg the week. Apart om that, the gay party scene meets at the VIP-Club, Le Pacha, Le Comptoir Darna, or the other bars along the Avenue Mohammed V.

WHAT’S IT LIKE TO BE GAY … MOROC?

Gay-iendly hosts: discreet riads and open hearts. The followg riads are gay-iendly (plete list):. In a Nutshell: Marrakech for homosexuals.

Th, homosexuals are not treated differently om heterosexuals. Some gut ho are labeled “gay-iendly” and are ed to homosexual clients, so there are no irratns when, say, a double bed is requted. The gay night life n be bt experienced one of the clubs mentned above, but is advisable to keep a keen md even there: It is not unlikely that the young man showerg you wh pliments is a prostute, and the police are rather strict their effort to nta prostutn, pecially as is gradually creasg Moroc.

Apart om this, Marrakech is as good a holiday statn for gays and lbians as is for heterosexually orientated.

GAY PRI CALENDAR

"Image source, AlamyImage ptn, Joy, sunglass, says LGBT Mlims face prsur of both homophobia and IslamophobiaJoy is a member of Imaan - a group of LGBT Mlims who are hopg to crowdfund £5, 000 to put on the volved wh Black Pri and Trans Pri have prevly told Newsbeat that their events are important bee of abe they've experienced wh the LGBT says this happens to LGBT Mlims as well. "Image source, Getty ImagHomosexualy is agast the law some Middle Eastern untri - where Islam is most monly practised.