Obama silent as 'gay cleansing' continues unchecked in Iraq

by Rhonda J Mangus | November 16, 2009 at 05:14 pm

170 views | 40 Recommendations | 10 comments

International LGBT Issues Examiner Kelvin Lynch story on 720 brutally murdered as 'gay cleansing' continues unchecked in Iraq claims President Obama is silent as 'gay cleansing', also known as 'sexual cleansing', continues unchecked in Iraq. Lynch also questions why American LGBT people and their supporters have not expressed more outrage about the situation facing LGBT Iraqis.

But the big question continues to be, why hasn't the U.S. government done anything to help? It is hearbreaking that Iraqi LGBT has to beg for donations on its website, instead of getting any form of help whatsoever from us to help stop the gay genocide in Iraq.

President Obama has remained completely silent on the issue, even after receiving a letter from Rep. Jared Polis urging his administration to take action, and a 67-page report by Human Rights Watch in August outlining in explicit detail the torture and murder of LGBT Iraqis, which was featured prominently in nearly every U.S. media outlet, including the New York Times and CNN. Since the HRW report was released, there hasn't been a single change in military strategy to protect LGBT Iraqis from the roaming death squads or the Iraqi police.

Better question - why haven't American LGBT people and their supporters expressed more outrage about the horrendous situation facing LGBT Iraqis? Are we so caught up in our own myopic obsession with equal rights here that we forget about the plight of our brothers and sisters in the (still) U.S.-occupied territory? Why aren't we doing more to try and help them? Why aren't we doing more to speak out on their behalf?

Iraqi LGBT is doing all it can, but being the only organization dedicated to helping gay Iraqis, it's difficult for them to make much of an impact. So far, Iraqi LGBT says nearly 100 individuals in Iraq have directly benefited from their work, and they have been involved in securing asylum for Iraqi refugees who have been forced to flee the country.

Iraqi LGBT estimates that over 720 LGBT men and women have been murdered by extremist militias in the last six years.

More information can be obtained at Iraqi LGBT.

More stories on NowPublic Sexuality Special News Coverage

0 See all footage | View Slideshow

Share: email story | add to any | | facebook | stumbleupon

recommend Add a comment

YankeeJim

at 17:31 on November 16th, 2009

He does not want to bite off another thing that he cannot chew.

YankeeJim

at 17:31 on November 16th, 2009

He does not want to bite off another thing that he cannot chew.

smkovalinsky

at 17:55 on November 16th, 2009

Yes, he has sidestepped the gay issues again and again. Awful picture, but the stark reality without concealment of the brutality is necessary.

Rhonda J Mangus

at 18:38 on November 16th, 2009

It is necessary, unfortunately, smk. Also, because there seems to be a glitch again in video upload:), I have included a link in the story 'sexual cleansing' that will direct the reader to a host of video and articles on this atrocity.

Thanks for reading, commenting, and for the rec!

rng

at 20:08 on November 16th, 2009

It is but one level of brutality in the new country we created. There was brutality before. There is still brutality now..but now there are more colors and flavors if you want to take an optimistic view

Rory Cripps

at 20:48 on November 16th, 2009

I guess Ooh! Ooh! Ooh! BHO is not the guy that many thought he was. It's a shame, though, that so many still remain hung up on that "hope and change" thing . . . . I ching a ding!

Babel-Fish

at 21:01 on November 16th, 2009

Can we trust the source, remember the examiner is owned by republican media, (tongue in cheek).

What did George Bush do about it (tongue in cheek once again).

In most Islamic states there is a gay issue and the problem is how do we stop it happening then there again how does Obama stop it and are we sure he is not trying too?

"extremist militias threatening all those known to support LGBT." Evidently it hard to catch the terrorist and its the terrorist doing this.

What the hell can the military do about it?

What extra things can be done set up Gay traps, put an American soldiers out in the streets looking like they are gay.

Hey guys give it a break this is problem is a dreadful one and extremist are the ones to blame and its now being used for Obama bashing.

Roy C

at 21:38 on November 16th, 2009

You can explain Obama, but the explanation for the LGBT community would have to be more nefarious.

They don't want to validate any negative conception of Muslims and Iraq because that validates what Christians and other conservative voices have been saying for decades and longer.

Validating anything of Christianity is a taboo, even as the lesser of two evils.

Babel-Fish

at 01:20 on November 17th, 2009

Yep Christians have been anti gay for many a decade within the catholic church even the old gays there condemn those with a same sexual orientation. Oh and ever anglicism goes way over the top on gay issues. Then if one of them is busted the protectionism goes full tilt.

Rhonda J Mangus

at 04:52 on November 17th, 2009

Thanks everyone for your comments, to which I would like to add:

Treatment of gays in Iraq is worse with the 'new democracy'. Isn't that interesting?

Investigating reports of the murder and torture of gay men in Iraq, Ashley Byrne found that some gays found Saddam Hussein's dictatorship preferable to the threat of violence they face today.

Note: Some readers may find parts of this report disturbing.