One of the hardest regions of the globe to be lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender is the Arab world. In Saudi Arabia and Yemen, the punishment for the crime of sodomy is death by stoning, and many other countries impose prison sentences.
Also challenging is the fact that the stigma associated with being LGBT is so great, many people feel they can’t come out even to their family or closest friends.
On this edition of Global Journalist, a look at the uncertain lives of LGBT people in Arab nations.
Joining the program:
- Saleem Haddad, the Jordanian-born author of the new novel "Guapa," about the outing of a young gay man in an unnamed Arab country.
- Graeme Reid, director of the LGBT rights program at Human Rights Watch.
- Esra'a Al-Shafei, a Bahraini activist and director of Mideast Youth, network of online platforms that amplify marginalized voices in the region.
- Antoun Issa, a senior editor at the Middle East Institute who has written extensively on LGBT issues in the region.