EGYPT

Dan Littauer, editor of Gay Middle East out of London, from CNN, May 27, "Will gays be 'sacrificial lambs' in Arab Spring?":

"Many gay activists are very scared that the reality of their oppression could get worse.

For example, in Egypt and Tunisia there was a lot of hope initially that there would be a more tolerant civil society. Now it seems that the impetus for change will be hijacked by conservative (sic) forces who will make the situation worse for gay people and other minorities."

TUNISIA

From Fox News, May 21 "Gays in Egypt, Tunisia worry about post-revolt era":

Throughout the Arab world, however, homosexual conduct remains taboo — it is punishable by floggings, long prison terms and in some cases execution...

"Our struggle goes on — it gets more and more difficult," Tunisian gays-rights and HIV-AIDS activist Hassen Hanini wrote to The Associated Press in an email. "The Tunisian gay community is still seeking its place in society in this new political environment..."

Hanini says... gay-rights activists... now worry that political developments may work against them.

"Tunisian gays, who are finding it increasingly difficult to be accepted... the Islamist parties who are trying to play the role of judge right now, and who view homosexuality and the gay community as a product of the former regime," he said. "They call it 'rot' that must be cleaned away."

From the Editor - Apologies to any reader offended by the photo. But sometimes it's necessary to show the true grotesque reality of Islamism.