05/22/2009
Expats in Baghdad Celebrate Pride as Locals Hide from Death Squads
It's being thrown by a group from the U.S. Embassy, for the U.S. Embassy. Given the situation for gays in Baghdad proper, is it appropriate for Americans to celebrate their Pride with a drag contest in a secured facility? The Washington Post reports:
"Change has certainly come to Baghdad. And it appears that includes the
U.S. Embassy, where they are holding what the invitation says is the
first-ever U.S. Embassy Gay Pride Theme Party next Friday at
Baghdaddy's, which is the embassy employee association's pub. 'Come celebrate the start of Summer with color . . . and in
costume!' the May 10 invitation says. 'Dress in drag or as a gay icon.
All are welcome.' The invitation was attached to what was called an 'All Hands Alerts' e-mail. An embassy spokesman said by way of explanation: 'This is an event
organized and sponsored by a group of employees. Given the lack of
places to meet in Baghdad, the embassy allows groups to use its social
facilities for events on a first-come, first-served basis.' The invitation says, 'Prizes will be awarded for two contests: Best
Dressed Gay Icon and Best Lip Synch Performance.' Unclear what the
prizes are, but don't forget to 'order costume supplies now in time for
May 29th,' we're told. 'For more info and costume ideas, check out the
next edition of The Tigris Times.'"
We assume locals would be invited but they're likely hiding from militias who want to torture and execute them by gluing their anuses shut.
For One Night, Baghdad Gets a Pink Zone [washington post]
(via story of the turtle)
Posted 9:29 AM EST by Andy Towle in Gay Pride, Iraq, News |
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I love me a good drag queen. I especially love me a bad drag queen. But I'm just not sure what to think about this. Given the horrific violence against the local LGBT population from the militias, a gay pride drag show at the embassy seems to be pretty insensitive unless they're raising money or rallying volunteer efforts to help the local LGBT population. I can see the reasoning behind wanting to show an example of LGBT people who are open and proud even in the midst of horror, but this could go so very wrong so very quickly.
Are there any LGBT service organizations in Baghdad (or anywhere else in Iraq)? There was one a while back, but as I recall their leader was killed by the militias.
Posted by: The Milkman | May 22, 2009 9:39:57 AM
Under Bush, gays in the diplomatic corps were probably discouraged from any form of flamboyance and limited in their forms of expression. Although I have no desire to partake in a drag contest, a Pride ccelebration at an American embassy during Pride month is perfectly appropriate.
Posted by: Mormon rights | May 22, 2009 10:05:24 AM
I would say it is certainly acceptable and all the more laudable because of the location.
Press coverage and heightened profile can only be good, as invisibility is proving/has proven a poor defense the world over.
Posted by: PM | May 22, 2009 10:22:47 AM
That's totally correct... invisibility is a poor defense. I hope that the state department will use any LGBT pride celebration to illuminate the plight of the Iraqi LGBT population.
Posted by: The Milkman | May 22, 2009 11:03:34 AM
Uhhh... how exactly is this going to provide visibilty and foment acceptance in the local communities that hunt gays for sport? Oh silly me... you mean visibility in the insular gay ghetto of course, as in, don't I look pretty in the mirror today, what chaos?
Posted by: bading | May 22, 2009 11:37:14 AM
Having been offered lucrative jobs in the Middle East (and turned them down because of a lack of a gay community and support there) - and knowing scores of gay non-Middle Easterners and Middle Easterners alike who live in that region - I completely sympathize with the Embassy employees' need to have a celebratory event. I don't understand the judgmental tone of this blog posting: so, because there is horrific homophobia in Baghdad, U.S. Embassy employees there can't have a gay pride celebration?
Check yourself: there's horrific homophobia EVERYWHERE - have we already forgotten that a man on 7th Ave. right off Christopher St. was brutally assaulted a couple weeks ago? I bet we're all still going to Pride this June, and have attended rallies and parties recently, in spite of this horrendous act.
How about we support the Embassy for allowing such expressions of pride amongst the LGBTQ staff, when a couple years ago (maybe even only ONE year ago) this would have been unthinkable.
Posted by: Andalusian Dog | May 22, 2009 12:10:38 PM
What's with the judgmental tone of this posting??? Some gay employees stationed in Iraq want to blow off a little steam in what must be an incredibly stressful environment...so what? When I read this story in the Post I thought that is was a positive progressive move for the state department to allow it. If the Post hadn't picked up the (non)story, we wouldn't have known about it - it's not like these people are out there broadcasting their event to the world, they just put up a flier! The situation in Iraq is horrific but I'm not sure what you expect these people to do to change it that wouldn't also allow for them to blow off a little steam in a gay friendly environment for a couple hours. Geesh!
Posted by: ShawnDC | May 22, 2009 5:56:09 PM
If America only knew the truth about how many gay Americans are fighting in both wars (Iraq and Afghanistan), they would be surprised. Not just troops but American civilians and contractors.
Take it from someone who served two tours in Iraq (one in the IZ, in Baghdad, where this party is happening): there are plenty of gay people out there, doing a terrific job. State Department --- thumbs up to you. You recognize the contributions of your gay Americans. The Pentagon is still in its own “closet.” Lots of great guys doing great work, and yes – they like men. So what, they’re just as much a part of America as the rest of us.
Eric Prince, the former CEO of Blackwater --- ooops, I meant “Xe” (and THAT’S a gay name in and of itself!) would be shocked to know how many of his big, knuckle-dragging security guys are lovin’ dudes and protecting people in Iraq and Afghanistan. KBR, PAE, Triple Canopy, CRG - just to name a few contracting companies who have gay men and women in their ranks who are just as much a part of the war effort as guys like me – straight and in the U.S. Army.
Good job Chris Hill --- you’ haven’t been there long but you’re taking care of your people. Hillary should be proud, and Obama – you too!
Posted by: NavyJ84 | May 22, 2009 7:29:14 PM
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Posted by: bob | May 23, 2009 1:15:20 PM
Yes Andalusian Dog, bashings anywhere are bad, but systematic death squads and medieval laws re: homosexuality are worse.
Posted by: David R. | May 25, 2009 11:57:36 PM