[Foundation-l] Reboot on LGBT/Egypt issue (was Re: [Wikimania-l] Wikimania 2008 will happen in Alexandria, Egypt)

[Daniel Mayer]

Before I get flammed on this point, I'm fully aware that Arabs and Egyptians are different ethnic
groups. However, what I've heard about the below behavior was specific to Arabs and may not fully
translate to Egyptians. What I want is a better understanding of this issue specific to Egypt so
that LGBT visitors to Wikimania 2008 will be properly informed and will be able to act in a way
that will minimize the possibility of encountering objectionable situations. 

-- mav 

--- Daniel Mayer <maveric149 at yahoo.com> wrote:

> --- MeMo <moamen at gmail.com> wrote:
> > as renting a hotel room with you partner or holding his hand is no problem
> > at all simply because those acts are common in Egypt ..
> > men do hold each others hand and friends do rent rooms together without
> > being considered gay or harassing them in any mean .
> 
> I've heard about the how American businessman are often shocked by being kissed by and being
> pressured to hold hands with full grown Arab men business contacts while traveling in the Mid
> East
> (all done w/o any sexual context or intent as far as the Arab man is concerned). There is also a
> different sense of personal space, with conversations often occurring at what would be very
> uncomfortably close range for American men. 
> 
> That said, the interactions I've heard about are either between locals or a local and a
> foreigner.
> Would the same behavior between two foreigners go unnoticed in the street? I'm inclined to think
> that many Egyptians know enough about western culture to spot that as something more than
> friendly
> behavior. 
> 
> -- mav
> 
> 
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