CAIRO: A Facebook page has been established to promote the rights of homosexuals and transgender citizens in Egypt and to call on them to gather on January 1 in Tahrir Square to demand their rights. “We have the right to come out in society and to protect ourselves and protect our society from oppressing homosexuals because a society that doesn't accept the other is a sick one,” said the Facebook page. To explain why they have chosen to protest in Tahrir Square in January, the page had a post saying: “We are a group of gay Egyptian youth. We were in Tahrir and we took part in the revolution. We see that each of us has the right to have a life of respect in public. We are part of Egypt's revolution and we won't allow anyone to question our loyalty.” The Facebook page has already seen many homophobic comments, murder threats and a number of people have posted Qur'anic quotes to portray how homosexuality is a “sin.” The administrator has also reposted the comments so the LGBTQ community has the rights to know. The page says its goal is provide a normal life for all Egyptians. Posted on behalf of the Facebook page's administrator, a man had sent in this comment: “What's the harm if two people from the same sex somewhere in this world are hugging each other? How did I harm you? Did I take something that is yours? Did I eat your food? What? I am a human who feels, loves, hates, gets angry, forgives, and feels happy!” As of mid-November the LGBTQ protest is set for January 1. BM
