Qatari Gay Rights - A Twit Twitters

Sheikh's required reading

The Chairman of the Qatar 2022 World Cup Bid Committee, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Hamad Al Thani, last month let his twitter followers know in unambiguous terms what he thinks of people who object to the host country’s laws banning homosexuality.

“It’s interesting that all of a sudden everyone who was anti-qatar2022 is now a gay rights activist. Glass houses, anyone?” he twote on December 14th. It’s interesting that anyone who expresses themselves on twitter seems to wind up sounding like a chat room bigot. Glass skulls, anyone?

On the same day he saw fit to further enlighten the world with his playground analysis. “People should stop using the topic of homosexuality as a scapegoat for their general (and discriminatory) attitude towards Qatar and the ME.” Yes, far better to use the topic to criminalise innocent people for their sexuality.

Blatter Should Apologise A Little Bit Harder

Deaf, or just plain dumb?

What are we to make of FIFA President Sepp Blatter’s apology late last week to anybody who “feels that they have been hurt” by his remarks that gay people who might want to visit the 2022 World Cup should “refrain from any sexual activities” while in Qatar?
 

The Associated Press reported that Blatter told hacks in Abu Dhabi on Friday he was sorry if anyone was offended by his comments. But being sorry for offending someone is not the same as being sorry for what you actually said. It’s like being sorry for getting caught taking bribes (to use an analogy that may have some resonance in FIFA circles).

Quote of the Month – Ban Ki-Moon Sets Sepp An Example

"Violence will end only when we confront prejudice. Stigma and discrimination will end only when we agree to speak out. That requires all of us to do our part; to speak out at home, at work, in our schools and communities." United Nations Secretary General Ban  Ki-moon calls for an end to violence and discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons on Human Rights Day (Dec. 10).

FIFA President Sepp Blatter may like to read the quote and write it out 50 times as an example of Enlightenment 101, and the kind of considered, statesmanlike leadership he seems to be lacking at present. Then send a copy to each of the 70-odd FIFA nations where homosexuality is criminalised.

Quote Of The Day - Slapping Blatter Down

“We are talking about a very basic human right that is being violated. This is not a joke, this is a matter of life and death to people. Qatar and more than 70 other countries in the world still criminalize individuals for homosexual relationships, and some countries even punish them by death sentence.

“It’s disappointing to see that an organization [FIFA] that is promoting the game, which in its statutes condemns discrimination of any kind, is coming out with comments like this.” 

Juris Lavrikovs, communications director for the European branch of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association, condemns FIFA President Sepp Blatter for his comments that gay fans visiting the 2022 World Cup in Qatar should "refrain from sexual activities". Full Associated Press report here.

Blatter Can't Bluff When It Comes To Sexual Politics

FIFA President Sepp Blatter was caught short yesterday when asked to comment on how gay fans could expect to visit the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, given that homosexuality is banned in the country. As always when asked to venture beyond political platitudes, the intellectually starved Blatter had no clue how to respond, so attempted a joke by saying that "they should refrain from sexual activities". Almost as enlightened as the time he advised women football players to wear tighter shorts to attract more fans.

Belatedly realising that his every chump-headed utterance is generally reported around the world, Blatter attempted to backtrack with some token eyewash about how "in football we have no boundaries". Which is presumably why no gay professional football player has outed himself since the late Justin Fashanu over 20 years ago. Surely nothing to do with the sniggering attitude of the game's leading functionaries.