http://www.afrol.com/Categories/Gay/somali...i_soulmates.htm

>>
By Afdhere Jama

As a young gay boy, Ali Abdulle read a lot. He mostly read novels, he says.

....
At the age of ten, his family had to move.

....
The new neighborhood was what it was expected to be; new. The family had to start from scratch. This is where Ismail Sakariye, then eleven-year-old, comes into the story. Abdulle's family moved next to Sakariye's. The two kids naturally went to the same school. They became friends.

- We became friends rather quickly, remembers Sakariye. "I never made friends that fast. We just had more in common than either of us anticipated." The boys found out they liked and disliked just about the same things. But what really brought them together, remembers Abdulle, was their common dislike for sports.

A year after meeting, the boys had "accidental" sex one night. "We were just playing and it just happened," says Sakariye. Well, it happened and happened and happened.

....
At the age of 16 and 17, the boys were still having sex. "After a certain time, I couldn't imagine living without him." Abdulle says. So, love came and knocked on their doors.

....
Once in Kenya, they applied for asylum as refugees. Three years after their application, they arrived in America.

....
Now, far away from all that in a land where they are told 'be all you can be,' Abdulle wholeheartedly believes Sakariye is his soul mate. He realizes that life can bring you good out of what seem like unthinkable situations.
....
<<

Afdhere Jama is the Editor of Huriyah Magazine, a magazine for LGBT Muslims.

[ March 06, 2003, 08:22 PM: Message edited by: twin58 ]

So you're just posting this stuff without comment? What are you expecting, that other people will pick up the conversational ball? Kinda rude, IMHO... Presumptious.

[ March 06, 2003, 06:50 PM: Message edited by: redsoxbreath ]

I report. You decide.

But we'd like to hear your opinion. Surely you have one...

I tried the link but went to a story on Togo. (Love the name of that country, Togo, and the adjectival form of it, Togolese....) BAck to the topic, where is this article? It sounds fascinating and beautiful. I'd imagine things aren't too easy for open-out homosexuals in Somalia, except perhaps in the capital and perhaps under certain unspoken scenarios. Beautiful people, at least the Somalis I've known.

See what happens when you don't participate in your own thread?

Try this:
http://www.afrol.com/Categories/Gay/somali...i_soulmates.htm

I was too busy downloading pictures of teenage boys in tight Lycra wrestling singlets to hang around the "Politics" forum.

As a consolation, here's a link for the entire Gay issues category at that site.
http://www.afrol.com/Categories/Gay/msindex.htm

Yes - I conur. We could all just post 25 articles/opinions per day that say what we're thinking and want the Board to know.

Nevertheless, with all the people that matriculate through these discussions, each one of us is going to have a different interest or take on what you post.

The only way to focus the discussion and share what you really are positing is to make a personal comment.

Otherwise, we could just read the article from Yahoo/Compuserve/MSN ourselves.

I think it's a matter of pride, manners, and responsible communications.

P.S. This also keeps people from "taking you on a ride" with their (sometimes, not often) non-sensical excerpts taken from, say, the 34th paragraph ("Surely, you support genocide in Borneo's hospitals, because there's a half-sentence from the Indonesian president about syphillis cases there on the surrounding islands.")

See what I mean?

[ March 07, 2003, 05:27 AM: Message edited by: bluebird48234 ]

Good God redsox breath and BB, y'all are harsh! I noticed you guys didn't make any comments on the article; you could only be bothered to insult and belittle twin58. Thanks for another lecture BB.

The story in this article is very sweet, touching and moving; illustrating the bond and strength of love even under unwelcoming conditions. The story speaks volumes for itself, even without comment fromt he original poster. Thank you twin58 for sharing it. I was surprised that there was no mention of a threat of violence against these guys, except for the moment when Sakariye's father was in "full rage and was running around with a knife." Once in the city of Shalaamboot, they seemed to have no fear of violence because of their sexual orientation; only isolation and degradation (it doesn't sound right to say "only" before that). At least they weren't arrested or executed for being gay, as would happen in some muslim countries. Even in the U.S. gays are not completely safe from the threat of violence, but we should be proud that these guys and others have found a relatively safe refuge in our country.

At your service, sir!

- - - - -

I am not a "lecturer"; nevertheless, I feel friendly in offering my opinion.

- - - - -

And furthermore, I disagree. There must be SOMETHING that could be said about the tenderness of Somalian romance in the face of African socio-politcal realities; nevertheless, I am not the author, and I would like to hear what the AUTHOR has to say about it.

Plus, IMO, most LGBTs have to consider a move from their place of birth or childhood residence unless there is enough refuge where they were lucky enough to be born. This is the case with LGBTs all over the world. And (in this scenario), East Africa cannot claim being an exception.

[ March 07, 2003, 07:34 AM: Message edited by: bluebird48234 ]

Yeah! Stop it, you meanies.

Did you read my last (thoroughly sensitive and festive) post, Twin58? :confused:

I was truly trying to cheer you up, and all that jazz!

[ March 07, 2003, 09:21 AM: Message edited by: bluebird48234 ]

Thanks, Twin. I can do without the teenage boys, though. Men, baby, men!

Mmmmm

I did comment, actually, but I went back and deleted it when I realized that it wasn't a conversation, just a "report".

Sorry to intrude.

[ March 07, 2003, 04:41 PM: Message edited by: redsoxbreath ]

Fantomas, you're cashing in these days, huh (see above "packaging")?!? eek!

- - - - -

BTW, I have gotten "called on the carpet" (in a very friendly way, in PMs) a few times about board etiquette. FYI only.

[ March 07, 2003, 10:47 AM: Message edited by: bluebird48234 ]

Okay, I've read through this and I still don't know the price of being gay in Somalia. But I'm glad I'm in the USA, where I can be gay for free!

If Twin58 is going to start this subject with that boring article, I think he should give his opinions. If he wants comments on his thread, he should offer his own comments first.

Bluebird, you are right on this one.

Packaging or no packaging, he looks too young for me. (And too blond--but you guys, uh, lick your chops and throw him to the mat.)

[ March 07, 2003, 11:34 PM: Message edited by: fantomas ]

I knew that* - nevertheless, he's got...a present!

*(Imagine him with a short 'fro and ebony skin [not difficult!]) eek!