06/21/2009
67 Filipino Men Arrested at Gay Party in Saudi Arabia
A gay party celebrating the Philippines' independence day at a villa in Riyadh was the target of police, who arrested 67 men, some of whom were in drag:
"Alcohol, which is strictly banned, was found, while cross-dressing - 'imitating a woman' in legal language - is also against local law. Some
of the men may also be charged with 'displaying homosexuality', though
none is accused of homosexual acts, an offence which carries much
heavier penalties in Saudi Arabia. The men were released pending formal charges. They face sentences of up to six months imprisonment and 60 lashes. The
arrests were confirmed by the Philippines' vice-consul in Riyadh,
Roussell Reyes. 'Some of those arrested were reportedly wearing gowns
and wigs and drinking liquor,' he told a radio station. 'It seems that
there was a party.'"
Similar arrests happened last year in June and July.
Posted 7:13 PM EST by Andy Towle in Drag Queens, Gay Rights, News, Philippines, Saudi Arabia |
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So, are we suppose to feel bad?
It's not like they did this in their own country as some form of civil disobedience against their country's laws. They deliberately went to another country (a muslim one at that) and did this.
Not sure I can feel bad. Pretty dumb
Posted by: Dave | Jun 21, 2009 7:54:18 PM
I'm sure the religious reich in this country are busy taking notes and salivating at the thought of doing the same thing here.
Posted by: Alexander | Jun 21, 2009 8:49:03 PM
dave: i doubt they were tourists. they were probably migrant workers. there are millions of them, including filipinos, in saudi arabia.
Posted by: E | Jun 21, 2009 8:57:05 PM
There is zero doubt that they were migrant workers---and underpaid, overworked ones at that. The Philippines is a bastion of gay tolerance relative to Saudi Arabia, but good-paying jobs are scarce.
Posted by: Paul R | Jun 21, 2009 9:55:56 PM
I spent six months at Dhahran when I was in the US Air Force. Third-country nationals (TCNs) are treated like dogs, and have basically no rights in the Kingdom. THOUSANDS of Filipinas come to Saudi Arabia to be housekeepers. The Master of the House holds her passport and she cannot leave the Kingdom without his permission. Filipina housekeepers are often physically abused and raped. How bad can it be in the Philippines that they keep coming to Saudi?
Posted by: Jay Clip | Jun 21, 2009 10:04:19 PM
First, I think the title of the story should read "67 Filipino men arrested at party celebrating Philippines Independence, some wearing women's clothes."
I also agree with Jay Clip, having spent 3 1/2 years there. There is actually a chart they use that guides how much compensation should be paid when different nationalities die in a car accident caused by others: Saudis the most, then US, then West Europeans, Canadians, Australians... and on down the list to Bangladeshis and Sri Lankans. It was pitiful.
Posted by: vbeast | Jun 21, 2009 10:46:10 PM
The middle east is so back-ass backwards
Posted by: KFLO | Jun 21, 2009 11:37:55 PM
I'm Filipino and I'm all for celebrating but they put themselves at risk by drinking alcohol and wearing drag. They thought they could get away with it, I think.
Posted by: Glenn | Jun 22, 2009 2:25:42 AM
They should get the death sentence :)
Posted by: Dakota | Jun 22, 2009 2:33:51 AM
I agree with Alexander. Why do this in a muslim country? An ounce of prevention equals... well you get the idea.
xo
Rants, Thoughts & Merde
http://www.rantsthoughtsmerde.com/2009/06/birthday-boy-ant.html
Posted by: NativeNYker | Jun 22, 2009 7:54:56 AM
I don't know why so many commentators are blaming the Filipinos for having a gay party. They were just trying to have some fun.
And, for everyone's information, Muslim countries have some the highest incidences of homosexual behavior, so I don't think you can make this into a Christian West vs Muslim East kind of issue. It's a false opposition.
Posted by: Rasheed | Jun 22, 2009 8:45:25 AM
This is what the Iranians are fighting to prevent and change in their country. Although you will not hear it openly. Secretly they want an end to the Islamic suffocation of their society.
Posted by: Rain | Jun 22, 2009 9:38:49 AM
The phillipino gov should agitate for their forced deportation from Saudi Arabia.
The men wouldn't suffer the horrid punishments from the gov and the gov gets to stand by its dark ages tribal legal system.
That said, the house of saud are false leaders.
The true sheriffs of Mecca and Medina are supposed to be the Jordanian royal family, direct descendants of myth Mohamed, who are much more friendly to the west and the 21st century.
The West's support of the babrbaric , tribal, religious fanatical house of saud to rule the area is a cluster-fuck that has only caused us more problems than it was worth
Posted by: jimmyboyo | Jun 22, 2009 9:43:37 AM
@ DAVE, DAKOTA, NATIVENYKER
Wow. I hope not run into you guys whenever I get in need of some compassion.
Posted by: Felix | Jun 22, 2009 9:59:10 AM
Not a party!
Heaven's to betsies!
What about the children?????????
Posted by: Marc | Jun 22, 2009 10:22:23 AM
Saudi Arabia is one the last countries to outlaw slavery. In fact, the arab world that started the saleve trade was the last to "oficially" outlaw it in the 1960s. In reality, slavery exists in the form of of what is done to foreign workers, many of which get their passports taken away as soon as they get there. And many, both men and women, are also subjected to sexual abuse and virtual sex slavery.
Posted by: william | Jun 22, 2009 11:10:12 AM
No matter who you are, what you are and where you're from, you follow local law. That's just common sense. Perhaps the party could have been more low key or more "underground". I'm all for having a good time, but you have to be smart about it.
Posted by: Alvin | Jun 22, 2009 12:44:52 PM
@Dakota
STFU before somebody gives you a death sentence.
Posted by: mike | Jun 22, 2009 2:26:52 PM
I am shocked at the comments here. These men were arrested because of laws based on the belief that homosexuality is immoral and therefore punishable by extreme measures. They deserve our support. I'm not sure that any of us would not want some sort of outlet of self-expression and enjoyment when working long, underpaid hours in a foreign country.
Posted by: RK | Jun 23, 2009 8:51:16 AM