The journey from Jerusalem to Amman, Jordan overland is only about 50 miles (80km) but the experience is a long one, taking three or four hours by way of the Allenby/King Hussein Bridge that spans the Jordan River between Israel and Jordan. In Israel, coming and going, there are at least three checkpoints and numerous
Jordan – Jerash Ancient Roman City (2)
Modern Jerash is a modest city 40 miles north of Amman. It was originally established as a major Roman Empire outpost in the Middle East that flourished from the 2nd to the 5th centuries CE. Today the ruins of this extensive ancient city offer an impressive glimpse into the brilliant design, engineering and construction skills
Jordan – Jerash Ancient Roman City (1)
Modern Jerash is a modest city 40 miles north of Amman. It was originally established as a major Roman Empire outpost in the Middle East that flourished from the 2nd to the 5th centuries CE. Today the ruins of this extensive ancient city offer an impressive glimpse into the brilliant design, engineering and construction skills
Jordan – Amman City (2)
Amman is a vibrant sprawling capital city of about 3 million people. Since the peace accord with Israel in 1994 it has seen steady growth uninterrupted by politcal uncertainty as well as the smooth passage from the beloved King Hussein to his son, King Abdullah in 1999. Amman has all the amenities and advantages of
Jordan – Amman City (1)
Amman is a vibrant sprawling capital city of about 3 million people. Since the peace accord with Israel in 1994 it has seen steady growth uninterrupted by politcal uncertainty as well as the smooth passage from the beloved King Hussein to his son, King Abdullah in 1999. Amman has all the amenities and advantages of
Gay Saudi Arabia 2002-04: a cautious eye finds new freedoms
Intro: Two guest authors provide much-needed and updated stories about the presence of male homosexuality in modern Saudi Arabia, without the hysteria and distortions often posted in the media. This is not to say this fundamentalist regime is ‘open’ to gay life but the stories offer a calm observation of sexuality as it happens in real life.
Gay Iran: No Place to Call Home
This is a brief no-nonsense introduction to homosexuality in Iran. Following this are three stories about being gay and Iranian.
Gay Palestine (and Israel): Stories from the Land of Milk and Agony: Israeli and Palestinian Gays
It’s difficult to separate information about Palestinian gays from the Israeli gay scene. Since Palestine is a very homophobic culture many Palestinian gays and lesbians are forced against their cultural and religious will to hide in Israel where homosexuality is much more acceptable and, indeed, protected. Three stories are presented here about gay living and loving in these two lands torn by tribal warfare.
Gay Israel 2002: More Stories from the Land of Milk and Agony: Israeli and Palestinian Gays
Three poignant stories from online magazines about gay living and loving in a land torn by tribal warfare.
Gay Israel 2000: Alert and Alive
Intro: Tal Weisberg-Bloch, a gay activist in Haifa, manned the Gay hotline one night as I talked with him about queer life in Israel. Here in the eye of the Arab middle east, under the guns of enemies, surrounded by Torah-thumping Orthodox Jews, inside a conservative and straight secular society–this ‘out and loud’ gay man was pleased to tell us about the significant gains for homosexuals in Israel over the past ten years. A box inside a box inside a box; yet it appears this smallest and innermost cell, the gay community, is also the most liberated and open minded of all the containers that compete for life in this desert land.