As the first Amerin to be jured the Iraq War, Mare Eric Alva shar the story of beg gay the ary at Harvard’s fal Faculty of Arts and Scienc Diversy Dialogue.
Contents:
- 2 GAY IRAQI SOLDIERS FOUND LOVE AMID WAR. THEN THE ATH THREATS STARTED
- THIS NEW MOVIE TELLS THE TORTURED LOVE STORY OF TWO GAY IRAQI SOLDIERS
- IRAQ: A GAY SOLDIER’S VIEW
- TORTURED AND KILLED IRAQ FOR BEG GAY
- GAY MARE HELPS CHANGE HISTORY
- "COMG OUT UNR FIRE": THE STORY OF GAY AND LBIAN SERVICEMEMBERS
2 GAY IRAQI SOLDIERS FOUND LOVE AMID WAR. THEN THE ATH THREATS STARTED
Btoo Allami and Nayyef Hrebid ped persecutn om relativ for beg gay. Nearly a and two ntents later, they rned. * gay soldiers in iraq *
Neher Hrebid nor Allami knew the other was gay. ISIS, which held large swaths of Iraqi terrory until recently, has also targeted gay men, tossg many to their aths om tall buildgs. Even durg the days of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, when the US did not officially allow gay people to serve the ary, Hrebid says a base officer allowed them to spend time together at the Amerin base.
But word got out that he was gay, and that he was a US translator. One night, as they chatted on Skype, Allami’s relativ overheard them and realized he was gay. Failla scrib the uple as “major fluencers” the gay muny Seattle.
THIS NEW MOVIE TELLS THE TORTURED LOVE STORY OF TWO GAY IRAQI SOLDIERS
On the 11th anniversary of the Amerin vasn of Iraq, gay former soldier Rob Smh remembers the harrowg events. * gay soldiers in iraq *
The last few s have seen a transformatn Amerins’ attus toward gay people.
Today nearly two-thirds of Amerins say homosexualy should be accepted, up om jt over 30% the early 2000s. Yet some Ain and Middle Eastern untri, nearly 100% of people say the oppose—that society mt disurage homosexualy. In the plac, beg gay is still seen as a s or disease to be routed out, which has taken the form of gay men beg hurled om the top of buildgs or stoned to ath.
TIME spoke to the uple featured a film that spans a and four untri about what was like to grow up that part of the world, why they ma this film and how feels to watch gay refuge flee persecutn the Middle East now that they’re safe Washgton state. ) What was like growg up Iraq and realizg that you were gay?
IRAQ: A GAY SOLDIER’S VIEW
Homosexualy is prohibed almost everywhere the Middle East, but ndns have bee pecially dangero for gays and lbians, as relig ias have bee powerful the wake of the U.S.-led vasn of Iraq. * gay soldiers in iraq *
And if they fd about [ beg gay], of urse we will get killed or be tortured to be exampl for others … It ma me feel like they’re tyg my hands and my legs and I nnot move.
TORTURED AND KILLED IRAQ FOR BEG GAY
* gay soldiers in iraq *
Hrebid: We were on a missn and I’m still not pletely sure if he’s gay or not, and same thg for him. Why do you thk homosexualy ntu to be perceived as a disease some plac?
There are reports that ISIS is vlently persecutg gay people Iraq and Syria now. That's how you end up wh ras playg "gay chicken, " as Roger, a former mare who fought Iraq, told . "Who n do the gayt thg?
Wouldn't that technilly be gay rooster? Those outlets clud endls jok about the alleged flamg gayns of someone, bee no matter how society's view of homosexualy chang, teenagers are gog to make gay jok until the end of time.
GAY MARE HELPS CHANGE HISTORY
No one was around when happened, and absolutely was not a se of 'gay chicken. " And here's where all of the weird homoerotic horseplay factors : Any plat about an cint like this n be wrten off as "Boys will be boys. "I uld eher report the asslt and be discharged for vlatg the ary's ban on homosexual behavr, or not say anythg and be tted for STDs.
ROB SMITH is a gay Iraq war veteran, journalist, lecturer, and LGBT activist.
"COMG OUT UNR FIRE": THE STORY OF GAY AND LBIAN SERVICEMEMBERS
"When we first met we nnot say we are gay for each other, " Nayyef told Seattle rad statn KUOW.
Not only were they volved a severely dangero ary mpaign still the era of DADT; they were also both part of a culture that has ls than favorable views toward gays. "To be gay Iraq, 's very dangero, " said Nayyef. He go safe life, he now told everyone on the outsi, 'I'm gay.