Somah

Gay Egyptians are "Born This Way"

When Lady Gaga's "Born This Way" single came out a week ago, I didn't really care for it that much. But this little girl made a believer out of me. The message in this song (be & love yourself just the way you are) struck a chord with me given the current situation in the Middle East, and Egypt in particular.

Right this minute, millions of gay Egyptians are cautiously trying to find their place in a new Egypt. As the promise of freedom and reform echos across Egypt, decades of torture, abuse and scapegoating may soon come to an end. There is hope that the torture and humiliation gay Egyptian men had to endure in 2001 may never happen again.

But even when the torture ends, mental and psychological damage inflicted by society on its own who are gay is whole different ballgame. How can we expect young gay men and women to grow up with any sense of pride and self-esteem when they are told from a very young age that being gay is "perverted", "disgusting", and "a family disgrace." Strong societal aversion and lack of any positive gay Arab role models are the two most important things we need to address to complete the free environment so many are yearning for.

The Egyptian Revolution has been a fight to restore dignity, self-esteem and pride to ALL Egyptians, and that includes the gay men and women of Egypt.

This song is for you, my fellow gay Egyptians, and for anyone who has been marginalized for not fitting society's mold.

Don't hide yourself in regret. Just love yourself and you're set. You are on the right track, Egyptians, you are born this way. 

[VIDEO] Strife is The Human Condition

With everything happening in the Middle East, Wisconsin and the entire world it seems, I was reminded of this video I put together back in 2008 after the passage of Prop 8. I was reminded that the human condition is that of strife, struggle and dreams. I wish everyone working for a just cause triumph and joy. 

Eleven Restaurant in West Hollywood

Eleven 11 is my new favorite hot spot in West Hollywood, especially for Happy Hour on Fridays. It's spacious, mellow and not crazy loud like the Abbey. For Happy Hour, the drinks and appetizers are 2-for-1, and the drinks are strong. The crowd is chic and mostly locals.

The only days there that weren't for me were Sundays. They apparently have a T-dance on Sundays and that entails loud, thudding music and the crowd that such noise attracts. Let's just say that the mellow, fun bar turns into an Abbey-on-Steroids, which is not pretty. So if you want to chill out and have a conversation with a friend, don't go to Eleven on Sundays.

I normally like to go to Trunks, Fiesta Cantina or the Mother Load on Sundays. Of course, I have to stop at the Abbey before heading home, but not for more than half an hour tops. Sundays are hard in West Hollywood because the place gets overcrowded and overwhelming. I need to start going to the theater on Sunday afternoons instead of hitting the bars. Hmm, I think I might be onto something there!

Gay Marriage is Legal in California

Finally, same-sex couples that choose to tie the knot are now able to do so in the great State of California. Of course, gay marriage opponents (or homophobes) have succeeded in adding a measure to the November ballot that would amend the State's constitution to define marriage to be strictly between a man and a woman. Now it's up to the voters to decide whether or not their compatriots have a right to pursue their happiness, which is one of the unalienable rights granted to them by the Constitution.

The last survey I read suggested that a bit over half of all Californians rejected a constitution amendment that bans gay marriage. That's great news and shows how far the State has come in the tolerance department. Having said that, I believe we cannot put the fate of others in the hands of voters and call that Democracy. If we had put the fate of African-Americans in the hands of the voters back in the 60's, Black folks would still be treated as second-class citizens today.

The judges have spoken and they law is on the gays' side. Voters cannot decide the fate of a minority because the mob mentality will take over and almost always the minority ends up getting victimized .. again.

Let the gays get married and let's move on to more important, rather urgent, issues like the devalued dollar and the crumbling economy. Now those are issues that the American voters have a chance to correct come November and I pray to God that we collectively make the right choice since we failed to do so back in 2004 and 2000. With a vote track record like this, the only thing I can trust the voters with is American Idol.

Outfest 2008 is on July 9-21

It's this time of year again when Los Angeles sparkles with LGBT stars and fans celebrating the LGBT achievement in film. Outfest, The Los Angeles Gay and LEsbian Film Festival, is a definite highlight of the summer and I can hardly wait for the opening night!

I certainly hope to see some Middle Eastern LGBT films represented this year. Israel does a good job in producing several of these a year, but I'm hoping to see some films from Egypt, Lebanon or Morocco this year. I do understand the difficulties, which oftentimes have mortal consequences, to produce such films in those countries, but I have high hopes for the incredible talents that are yearning to have their voices heard and visions seen to overcome those obstacles and blow us away with one masterpiece after another.