Detained in Dubai’s Radha Stirling shares her views
“Homosexuality is illegal in the UAE, with punishments from serious jail terms all the way to a death sentence. Any expression of an LGBT identity, or of being in any sort of LGBT relationship is strictly forbidden in the Emirates. In recent years we have seen an Australian man report an assault to Dubai police, only to find himself charged with homosexuality, and sentenced to over a year imprisonment. Others have been arrested for “appearing” feminine in their clothing.
“Dubai has become a popular destination for many celebrities and performers who champion LGBT issues, such as Lady Gaga and Madonna; and even openly Gay artists like Elton John and Ricky Martin. The contradiction has been conspicuous, and it is inevitable that Dubai’s conservative laws will need progressive reforms. It is noteworthy that Matthew Healy was reportedly responding to a member of the audience, most of whom, it is fair to suppose, believe in LGBT rights. Thus, the UAE’s laws are increasingly at odds with the attitudes and values of the population. It is unrealistic for Dubai’s leaders to think that merely hosting performers with progressive views will satisfy people’s desire for equality. It is more likely that such gestures will bring the fundamental conflict of values to a head. At some point, Dubai is going to discover that the image of tolerance creates expectations of actual tolerance, not only among foreigners but among locals.
“I believe that Dubai, more than any other city in the Gulf, has made efforts to modernise and to become more liberal and Western; but the progress has been very slow, and on the LGBT issue, non-existent. It is possible that Healy’s action may cause a backlash among Emiratis, and have the opposite result he may have intended. Social and political reforms in the Gulf are not easy, and there is a reflexive resistance to any external pressures to change. But, sometimes a bold action is required to create an impetus for reform, so hopefully, Healy’s action may spark a genuine reevaluation in the UAE of repressive treatment of the LGBT community.”
