Saudi Arabia, known for living under the strict Islamic law, is stepping up its policing efforts towards sexuality, not the least of which is “unnatural intercourse,” the term that the Kingdom of Saud uses for homosexual contact.  This week the religious police busted what they called “a gay party” with some 55 men present, two of whom were cross-dressed and dancing together at the time. 

Image courtesy of the Library of Congress

The history of Saudi treatment of men they arrest for being gay doesn’t speak well for their chances of leading happy, productive lives—the Kingdom has executed men for the “crime” in the past, and most recently issued a punishment of 7,000 lashes each to two men they convicted of being a gay couple.

Of course, the good news for gays in Saudi Arabia is that being male, at least they are able to retain property rights and not be treated as such; women have almost no social status, little education, and, of course, are covered up in public so as not to diminish the power of their husbands, to whom they must always defer. 

And this is an ALLY of the western world in the Middle East.  Good heavens, let’s get off of the oil post haste.

By Pinke.biz writer Ben Ray. Check out his blog at What's Required.