Bekhsoos: Concerning Homophobia

Last updated on: September 23, 2008 at 12:00 am by fatima

Bekhsoos: Concerning Homophobia 2008-09-23T00:00:40-04:00 fatima

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

How excited was I when our editor, Fatemeh, emailed out a link to a new online magazine called Bek hsoos!? Of course, I jumped at the chance to cover the first issue of the mag, which is called Bekhsoos il Homophobia (Concerning Homophobia) and is chock-full of editorials, personal stories, health articles, media analyses and more, all concerning homophobia. The best part? The magazine is based in Lebanon, where being gay is against the law, so it’s existence alone is ultra-radical. The magazine is also intended for (and created by) lesbian, bisexual, queer, and transgender women in the Arab world. Sweet!

I love that queer Arab women have a safe outlet for expressing their thoughts on issues that are affecting their lives. Having one welcoming space where they can talk about STDs in the queer women’s community, the portrayal of trans folks on Lebanese TV, what it is like to attend American University-Beirut as a queer woman, and share their poetry on homophobia – well, it’s a beautiful (and MUCH needed) thing.

While surfing the articles, I did come across one that didn’t quite sit well with me. Nadz’ article, titled “Transsexuals on TV: ‘We Want to Be Just Like You'”, is about transgender people on Lebanese TV shows. I felt like it was conflating the issue of gender and sexuality to me. While sexual identity concerns who you are attracted to, gender identity concerns what gender you personally identify with. So, someone could identify as transgender (born female, and choosing a masculine gender instead), be attracted to women, and identify as straight. Get it?

I was worried that the article didn’t quite make the distinction between gender and sexual identity. However, the magazine has such a welcoming atmosphere that I really feel like I can just email my concerns to the editor and have an open and safe discussion about it.

The magazine is clearly not staffed by journalists or professional writers – and that’s totally okay. The main point is that these women have a place to speak their minds, tell their stories, and be really gay.

Bekhsoos is really creating a buzz in the Arab world and a Lebanese-based news outlet, Menassat, has a story on the revolutionary new magazine. The article is great but one thing – the huge picture of two (white!) women going in for a sensual kiss? It’s a bit too much. Why? No, not because I think its pornographic or because it’s inherently inappropriate or distasteful or anything. It is because when people think lesbian, bisexual, or queer women, the last thing anyone needs is to feed the straight man’s fantasy about two hot lesbians getting it on. Queer women’s relationships with one another are already exploited enough, and are not taken seriously by the mainstream so I would have appreciated if they would have chosen another picture. And also, hello! It’s a magazine for Arab women…so why are the women pictured totally white? Maybe that’s the only one they could find in their Google image search?

Anyways, the article is still really great and doesn’t rip apart Bekhsoos or de-legitimize its mission. And Bekhsoos, as I stated before, is really worth taking a look at. Even those of you who are so adamantly against anything gay, you might learn something new about the lives of millions of your fellow Muslims and residents of this world if you read a couple of the articles.

And watch out for their next issue, slated to come out by October 31st, Bekhsoos il Pride (Concerning Pride).

Previous Post

September 23, 2008

Shame on You: Shame Cartoons

Next Post

September 24, 2008 Everywoman: Hijab Fashion

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Advertisements Art/Theater Books/Magazines Cinema Comics/Cartoons Culture/Society Events Fashion Film Friday Links Merchandise/Commodities MMW Announcements MMW Highlights Music/Radio News Photography Politics Profile Ramadan 2012 Ramadan 2013 Ramadan 2014 Ramadan 2015 Roundtable Satire Social Media Sports Technology/Science Television Uncategorized Video Web

Select a Month November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What is the meaning of "Golgotha," the place of Jesus' crucifixion?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Place of Tears Valley of Death Place of the Skull House of Sorrows