Blogging While Gay, African and Arab

Middle Eastern LGBT bloggers find their way

by j. brotherlove

Photo: Blogger Matuba Mahlatjie by REUTERS/Antony Kaminju

Daily South African newspaper The Star draws more attention to a story I first saw in Reuters about African and Middle Eastern gays and lesbians who are beginning to blog. While most are wise to post anonymously for their safety, the sense of community is uplifting (even amongst occasional, hate-filled comments).

From traditional blogs like Black Gay Arab, Gay By Nature (Dubai), and Rants and raves of a Kenyan gay man to the news-style format of Gay Uganda, gay people reporting to live in Egypt, Algeria, Bahrain and Morocco are making bold statements about where — and how — they live.

The constitutional recognition of gay rights in South Africa has even encouraged some like Matuba Mahlatjie in Johannesburg to blog openly gay:

"I don’t preserve my anonymity at all. I am embracing our constitution which gives us the right to freedom of speech … There is nothing wrong that I am doing."

Right on!

I am always amazed at how we as gays in America take some of our basic liberties for granted, and these brave folks are walking a line between life and death. Very brave. Excellent post.-QH

Thanks for pointing that out, QH. BTW, you’re doing a great job with your music blog!

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