Unspeakable Love: Gay and Lesbian Life in the Middle East (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9780520250178)

Homosexuality is a taboo subject in Arab countries. Clerics denounce it as a heinous sin, while newspapers write cryptically of "shameful acts." Although many parts of the world now accept sexual diversity, the Middle East is moving in the opposite direction. In this absorbing account, journalist Brian Whitaker calls attention to the voices of men and women who are struggling with gay identities in societies where they are marginalized and persecuted by the authorities. He paints a disturbing picture of people who live secretive, fearful lives and who are often jailed, beaten, and ostracized by their families, or sent to be "cured" by psychiatrists.

Whitaker's exploration of changing sexual behavior in the Arab world reveals that--while deeply repressive prejudices and stereotypes still govern much thinking about homosexuality--there are pockets of change and tolerance. The author combines personal accounts from individuals in the region with a look at recent Arab films and novels featuring gay characters and conducts a sensitive comparative reading of Christian, Jewish, and Islamic strictures around sexuality. Deeply informed and engagingly written, Unspeakable Love draws long overdue attention to a crucial subject.

Copub: Saqi Books

Author: Brian Whitaker
ISBN-10: 0520250176
ISBN-13: 9780520250178
Publisher: University of California Press
Language: English
Published: 11/06/2006
Pages: 264
Format: Paperback
Weight: 0.71lbs
Size: 8.20h x 5.38w x 0.55d

Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Reviews 09/01/2006 pg. 896
Publishers Weekly 09/18/2006 pg. 50