Towleroad Guide to the Tube #571

LOOK-OUT: The view from the top of the Burj Dubai.

FLASH MOB: Janet Jackson gets a fan tribute at L.A.'s The Grove.

PYRAMIDS AT GIZA: From the local Pizza Hut.

MO ROCCA: International capital cities vs Venice Beach pull-ups.

For recent Guides to the Tube, click HERE.

Gay Couple Detained in Dubai 28 Days for Arthritis Drug Celebrex

This sounds hellish:

"Rocky Sharma and Stephen Macleod, who have been together for 10 years, were stopped upon arrival in Dubai on Aug 2, where they planned to spend the day before returning to Toronto from a vacation in India. Macleod had a bottle of the prescription arthritis medication Celebrex in his suitcase. They were told Celebrex is a controlled substance in UAE and, even though they did not present themselves to border officials as a couple, both partners were detained. 'I think they thought we were gay and we would have some party drugs with us,' says Sharma, who is now safely back at home with his partner. 'They were definitely targeting people who are young, from the western world and nicely dressed, like they are going to party.'"

Sharma and Macleod were not given an opportunity to contact a lawyer or the Canadian embassy (which they managed to do before their phone was confiscated), slept on the floor in a filthy prison cell and ate rice, were kept separate with no communication except through a case worker from the Canadian consulate, and were held an additional 11 days after being declared innocent.

'The World' Comes into View Off the Coast of Dubai

NASA's Earth Observatory has posted two shots of the obscenely extravagant land development/reclamation project off the coast of Dubai known as 'The World'. They report:

"This pair of images from the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) on NASA’s Terra satellite show the development of the archipelago known as 'The World.' The top image shows the project on February 5, 2009. All the continents are represented (the “map” is tilted toward the left). A breakwater surrounds the archipelago, and its role is obvious: outside the perimeter, especially to the northwest, the waters of the Gulf ripple with waves that would wear the artificial islands away. The bottom image shows the project on November 13, 2004, when dredging and building were just getting underway. Only one of the islands that make up 'The World' appears to have achieved its full potential as a manmade tropical paradise. One of the islands in western Greenland has been landscaped, and it appears as a single green dot among its sand-covered neighbors."

We should note that while all this may be interesting from a distance, Dubai remains a 'world' that is not welcoming to gay people and this post is certainly not meant to be seen as an endorsement of it.

Margaret Atwood Feels Burned After Pulling Out of Dubai Book Fest

Author Margaret Atwood, who last week announced she was pulling out of a Dubai book festival because author Geraldine Bedell's Book The Gulf Between Us, was banned because of a gay storyline, posted an angry retort on her site about feeling deceived by the reports.

"As Atwood writes today, citing blog reports and 'other commentators': 'From reading the press [about the apparent 'ban'], I got the impression that [Bedell's] book had been scheduled to launch at the festival, and that the launch had then been cancelled, for whiff-o'-gay-sheikh reasons; and that furthermore, Bedell herself had been prohibited from attending the festival, and also from travelling in Dubai.' On speaking to Isobel Abulhoul, the festival's director, however, she was told that this was not the case, she writes. Rather, the festival director had sent a 'candid' and somewhat naive email of rejection, which 'was carefully guarded by someone - who? - until now, when it was hurled into the press with great publicity effect, easily stampeding people like me.' Atwood, upset that her principled stance was taken under what she now sees as false pretences, and protective of the 'first-time festivalite' Abulhoul, says her 'head is spinning' as a result of the controversy. On Thursday, a UAE newspaper quoted the head of censorship at the country's National Media Council (NMC), denying the novel had ever been banned. As such, Atwood argues, the words 'banned' and 'censored' were 'not helpful'."

The Guardian continues to report, however, that the book was turned away because of its controversial subject matter, citing an email that the gay storyline as well as the backdrop of the Iraq war were the reasons the book could not be launched at the festival.

Previously
Margaret Atwood Pulls Out of Dubai Book Fest Over Gay Book Ban [tr]

Margaret Atwood Pulls Out of Dubai Book Fest Over Gay Book Ban

Yesterday I posted about Geraldine Bedell's novel, The Gulf Between Us. Organizers of Dubai's inaugural International Festival of Literature banned the book, which is set against the Iraq war, because of a storyline involving a gay character — a sheikh with an English boyfriend. 

Writer Margaret Atwood, who was set to attend the festival, pulled out because of the decision, and posted a statement on her website:

"Dear Isobel Abulhoul; It is with great regret that I inform you that I cannot attend this year's Emirates Airline International Festival of Literature in Dubai. I know you have put an enormous amount of work into it, I can imagine how many difficulties have had to be overcome, and I am very sad about the regrettable turn of events surrounding The Gulf Between Us. I was greatly looking forward to the Festival, and to the chance to meet readers there; but, as an International Vice President of PEN -- an organization concerned with the censorship of writers -- I cannot be part of the Festival this year. I wish you much success. Perhaps in the future I will be able to attend."

Abulhoul, the festival director, called Atwood's decision "regrettable," saying, "In organising any literary festival... one has to take decisions regarding the target audience. Dubai has not changed its social norms, culture or laws...The ambition behind setting up the festival is fuelled by our heartfelt belief in actively engaging and helping to bridge the gap between East and West. I would hope that anyone informed and interested in the differing cultures around the world would both understand and respect the path we tread in setting up the first festival of this nature in the Middle East."

News: Twilight, Robert Pattinson, Dubai Book Ban, Giorgio Armani

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Hated liberals, gays: Knoxville church shooter's manifesto made public.

Dubai bans British author's book because of gay character: "Geraldine Bedell's book The Gulf Between Us was greeted with enthusiasm by organisers because of its setting in the Middle East, but the mood changed swiftly when they discovered a gay character...[International Festival of Literature director Isobel Abulhoul] explained that the book was unsuitable because one of the characters was a gay sheikh with an English boyfriend and the plot was set against the background of the Iraq War which 'could be a minefield for us'."

REPORT: Madonna gets involved in Twilight sequel.

Foes launch effort to recall Portland Mayor Sam Adams.

Facebook clarifies its evil new terms of service.

Massachusetts school informs parents of transgender janitor's transition from male to female. "Pro-family" groups apoplectic.

Cheney outraged Bush didn't grant Scooter Libby a full pardon: "Several sources confirmed Cheney refused to take no for an answer. 'He went to the mat and came back and back and back at Bush,' a Cheney defender said. 'He was still trying the day before Obama was sworn in.' After repeatedly telling Cheney his mind was made up, Bush became so exasperated with Cheney's persistence he told aides he didn't want to discuss the matter any further. The unsuccessful full-court press left Cheney bitter. 'He's furious with Bush,' a Cheney source told The News. 'He's really angry about it and decided he's going to say what he believes.'"

Does Britney Spears have a new Manny?

Giorgio Armani blogs.

Long Island Lolita Amy Fisher to become stripper, tour the country: "I love to dance, and I'm an exhibitionist. I am going to take this road until my fans tell me, 'Dear, please put your clothes back on. You're too old.'"

North Miami's openly gay mayor Kevin Burns to make run for U.S. Senate seat of Mel Martinez.

Michael Phelps won't be charged for smoking pot, and neither will his friends: "I’m glad this matter is put to rest. But there are also some important lessons that I’ve learned. For me, it’s all about recognizing that I used bad judgment and it’s a mistake I won’t make again. For young people especially – be careful about the decisions you make. One bad decision can really hurt you and the people you care about."

Michael Jackson's exploding head is part of massive Neverland auction.

Oklahoma to erect Ten Commandments monument on grounds of state capitol? "State Representative Mike Ritze said his bill would authorize installation of a monument similar to the one that the U.S. Supreme Court ruled could remain on the grounds of the Texas State Capitol. It would use the Ten Commandments text from the King James Version of the Bible."

Catholic bishop in Scranton, PA objects to Keith Boykin speaking appearance.

Robert Pattinson not a fan of fame.

Anti-gay Holocaust denier declines Pope Benedict's appointment as a bishop after public outrage: "Gerhard Maria Wagner said the "fierce criticism" had persuaded him to ask not to be named auxiliary bishop of Linz. Father Wagner has described Hurricane Katrina as God's punishment for the sins of New Orleans, and the Harry Potter novels as satanic. The Catholic news agency Kathpress says the Pope has agreed to the request."

L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Pastor Rick Warren have breakfast: "Evangelical minister Rick Warren brought a message of unity and civility to more than 1,000 people who attended the annual Los Angeles Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast today, avoiding mention of his outspoken opposition to gay marriage and abortion rights...Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa was less circumspect, and acknowledged his support of same-sex marriage and 'a woman’s right to choose.' He mentioned that he had performed marriage ceremonies for gay and lesbian couples...'We won’t always agree,' Villaraigosa told the audience gathered at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel downtown. 'But we can agree on basic civil rights. We may not agree on Roe vs. Wade, but we both want to reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies and abortion.'"