Queer Query #3: What would happen if Egypt INC. officially allowed Homosexuality on its soil?

Going with the new branding image of Egypt by the government and the same way all countries try to brand themselves, I am going to call the Egyptian Government, EGYPT INC. at the end of the day we are like a co-operation, where you have the high level paid CEO, COO, CFO, CXO ETC, getting paid big bonuses even if nothing positive is in the outlook

For the question in matter what would happen if Egypt INC. thought like a real co-operation and realized that allowing homosexuality, and supporting the creation of a gay scene with in Egypt, and together with support for same sex marriage, would mean a lot of gay tourism. And lets face the facts, (ok not so much fact as my own assumptions) isn’t the PINK POUND more worthy than the normal straight devalued POUND. Gay Men & Women usually spend more than straight people, for a number of reasons, namely we don’t have as much as dependents on us as straight people (wife & 5 kids), another reason our vanity, and our happy nature of being always out… Marketing people in GQ, Esquire, Vogue Home, realize that to the extent even though they try to be straight magazine, but the adverts in them are targeted to attract the PINK POUND, show me an average (Making 6000L.E, or below) straight man who will go fork up his saving for of Gucci Undies.

Also another aspect Egypt should consider going PRO HOMO, is that well lets face it, they will gain a lot of credit on the American Market and well international in terms of human rights, which could well again help them economically, because well one of the reasons USofA didn’t finalize the Free Trade Agreement with Egypt was because of its Human Right Record, and the imprisonment of Ayman Nour, obviously this isn’t the main reason but one of the many. So basically another reason for going PRO GAY is it will effect its relationship with Europe, USA which in turn would affect it economically

So lets hypothetically speaking say that our Company has realized and that Egypt INC, has decided to go PRO HOMO to reap some of its financial benefits. What do you think will happen, will it be a smooth transition, where lets say we can pick and choose a street or district and decide to name it the pink district of Egypt. Will Egypt has its own Soho, Oxford Street, or Canal Street.

Assume we did, with the help of many of our talented Artists, Interior Designers, Architects, where able to transform downtown into a GLBT district, where we had Gay Cafes, Bars, Discos, Support Centers, GYMs(as if we need more of that). Two questions that come directly into my mind
1) Muslim Brotherhood, and maybe other fanatic groups
2) Would people actually go?
The first is pretty obvious, Egypt is pretty much of a decent country with regards to safety, with the exception of the once every 3-5 years bombing. So do we really want to give those guys another group to target?
The other reason well a lot of the people here like being discrete of being in the scene in even house parties. Or in a bar that might have more than 3 people. I even met people who are afraid to meet other gay people because they don’t know what to do if they see them while they are in the company of their straight friends in a public place.

Mostly it is to due with fear, of what people do if they see oneself anywhere near a gay place. Fear of what people perceive you if they know you are gay. Its like you are ashamed of being Gay. What personally annoys me the is that, I can understand or relate to you at some point if you are ashamed of being gay from a religious aspect but if you are one of the new generation 18-26 gay boys on the scene who are not that religious and are afraid because of what people would perceive I don’t understand.

Some of my friends are out to their families and friends and they are taking it okay, I am not say wear some pink dress and walk in the street, I am not saying flaunt it, I am not saying be out, I am saying be who you are and don’t lie about it.

Why is this important? why am I saying that ? as I previously mentioned in this query, is that do you think if all of a sudden, Egypt INC decides to go PRO HOMO it will get the good reactions all by itself, we have to start somewhere, by small little steps. Do you think America, UK, Lebanon, Australia even had a gay seen in the 1900, 10s,20s,30s,40s, 50s, 60s!!! some of these gay scenes are of action that took place in 1980s, pre-that they had some similar issues of the society not accepting, but there had to be small steps.

So do I personally think Egypt INC will go PRO HOMO, or will EGYPT be a gay scene with in the next 20 years, NO … 30-40 is a MAYBE, 50-100… possibly… it all depends on when do we want to it happen

One last note before I end this entry, this is no GAY ACTIVISM or HUMAN RIGHT FIGHT, because well I am neither this nor that. I am just stating some facts, so in a way yes I am hypocrite by not doing much other than being out to my friends or some family members, but remember its as much as one can do with in his own circle. I know I have changed some of my friend’s opinions with regards to homosexuality.



Leave Your Comments,
Q.