[Speaking at Columbia University today] Ahmadinejad was asked a question about gay executions in Iran, which he attempted to avoid by referring to the death penalty in the United States, ignoring the sexuality aspect of the question completely. Moderator Dean Coatsworth kept on him however, and received this answer:
Presumably his death squads are killing phantoms.
Tut. Paul, it's *because* he kills them that they don't have any.
ReplyDeleteI'm not entirely sure whether he's misled/ignorant and actually believes the "there's no homosexuals in Iran" line, or whether it just doesn't fit with his feelings on how the world should be.
ReplyDeleteEither is quite frightening, to be honest...
And as a complete aside, I'm glad you blog on these gay issues. Similarly to disability issues I find out on other sites, for the most part I would be completely unaware of these things unless I read sites like yours/theirs...
It actually feels quite weird to be a hetero white middle class 30-something male at times, because I think I'm not supposed to find out these things...
hey jack
ReplyDeletethanks for that. you're a tonic, sweetheart.
I really appreciate the interest and don't feel weird ;] I am a decidedly un-PC queen although i will always call a spade a spade and homophobia homophobia - vis the Councillor and the men having sex in parks - comes from being old and having seen how bad it can get (I remember the worst of AIDS in the 80s, which had echoes of Thirties Berlin).
I did a speech @Holocaust Day (which you're making me think I should dig out and post) which reminded me again that we're actually not that far from savagery and which I identified with. I identify with all those Iranian queens, I can put myself there and I think you have to.
One thing I learnt a while back is that we've all got 'phobias' and 'isms' - they're in all cultures and everybody. the point is whether or not you recognise them and act.
so don't feel weird, feel proud of yourself.
xp.