Being Gay, and Possibly Stoned to Death, By the Taliban in Afghanistan: Prayers Abound

 A few weeks ago, I blogged on the horror of a Black gay man being threatened by the acting of stoning by a white cisgender non-LGBTQIA+ man in Klamath Falls, Oregon. Why? Because he is gay, though I'm sure being Black, and in a leadership role in civic government was probably unconsciously part of the problem for the white, cisgender man. The man, of course, thought he was following the master narrative of the Bible. 

Today's story, unreported by most of the mainstream media in Afghanistan is the future of gay men. While much has been made, and rightly so, of the future of girls and women in Afghanistan, with the return of the Taliban and the master narrative of the Muslim religion's Sharia law--which can be read as a conservative kind of constitution by some who are Muslim--this is a death sentence for the out and closeted gay men in this country.

In an article posted on Advocate.com, Aug. 23, 2021, the banner headline was "Afghanistan's Gay Men Fear Death as Taliban Judge OKs Stonings." 

From the article: "There’s reason to worry. German newspaper Bild already spoke to one Taliban judge who said the group would stone gay men. The group is known for its extremist view on Sharia Law, which would make homosexuality punishable by death.

Queer men are telling media they hope to find a way to escape the Taliban’s new rule. While homosexuality was still punishable by death, the punishment hadn’t been applied since 2001. During the Taliban’s rule in the 1990s, gay men were sentenced to death in Kabul, Kandahar, Herat, and elsewhere in the country."

Here's a link to the article: https://www.advocate.com/world/2021/8/23/afghanistans-gay-men-fear-death-taliban-judge-oks-stonings

So, along with the girls, boys, and women of Afghanistan, along with those who supported NATO and US efforts, let us pray, and tell our elected representatives and Senators to be sure that in the melee of the Afghanistan evacuation, that we include those out-gay men, and other parts of the LGBTQIA+ community, who fear for their life. 

My concern with much of the LGBTQIA+ news we read in the US, including many of our religious and church-based denominational LGBTQIA+ news and connections, is we more or less lack information and news in other parts of the world re: LGBTQIA+ communities. For example, the continued harassment of LGBTQIA+ people in Chechnya continues, and the problems there were raised in the excellent documentary, "Welcome to Chechnya," which has been nominated for "best documentary" in many film festivals. For more information on this, and other news about the LGBTQIA+ community around the world, go to: https://www.rainbowrailroad.org.

"Forward together, not one step back."


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Reflections on the Day The United Methodist Church Came Into the 21st Century

Welcome, members of The United Methodist Church (UMC), who, this day, May 1st, 2024, joined the 21st century, affirming the presence and welcoming those of us who are LGBTQIA2S+ people to be ordained, to serve churches, to marry, and to officiate at other weddings of same sex couples. Heck, you can now even use funds from within the UMC to pursue funding programs that assist people who are LGBTQIA2S+ in being and becoming more of the body of Christ through the practices of Methodism. Imagine: You can now focus on other issues that are facing Christendom! Hunger. Poverty. Peace-making programs. Gun control. Global climate. Houselessness. You name it. Praise God. Here’s a link to the news:  https://religionnews.com/2024/05/01/united-methodists-strike-down-ban-on-ordination-of-gay-clergy/  This day was, indeed, a long way in coming. 1972 is when that horrible language was published as part of your Constitution. Richard Nixon was President. HIV/AIDS was not yet an issue.  I’v...
Read more

The Threat of Stoning a Black Gay Man in Oregon! Time to Rise Up!

 As reported by Rachel Shatto in the Advocate.com website on Aug. 5, 2021 (that is 2021), Eric Osterberg, who is assistant to the city manager of Klamath Falls and staff-lead for the city's equity task force, was about to deliver a report on equity in the city before the city council when a man stood up with a stone the size of his hand and said to Eric: "Oh, so you think we are all racists? You think you are the second coming of Christ?" The man then accused Eric of spreading HIV and AIDS, saying he was blasphemous for being a Black gay man. The man continued: "You are a sinner and you need to be stoned. That is why I brought this stone."  The man with the stone was simply escorted out of the building by Klamath Falls police chief Robert Dentinger and simply released and sent home rather than being arrested, though Dentinger said he may have to talk with the man with the stone more in the future. You think? "The incident left Osterberg shaken. 'I felt ...
Read more

Discriminating in the Name of God at Calvin University

I read this article on advocate.com, by Trudy Ring, about an assistant professor on the faculty of Calvin University, who was fired from his position at Calvin because he officiated at a wedding of a same sex couple. The by-line? " Joseph Kuilema lost his job with Calvin University after officiating a queer couple's wedding. He's disgusted that the school discriminates in the name of God. ” That about says it all. Yes, the University is discriminating against LGBTQIA2S+ people and allies. I don’t get it. There are a lot of  smart, creative, insightful people at Calvin University. They don’t have to “buy” into the conservative politics of the Christian Reformed Church, of which they are connected. They are an institution of higher education. Surely, they can see discrimination when it is around them in the Grand Rapids area.  But apparently they are all right with openly practicing discrimination among themselves, especially when it comes to LGBTQIA2S+ people.  F...
Read more