Gay man from Qatar sounds alarm about coverage of the World Cup and LGBT oppression

[Behind the Aegis]

I was born and raised in Qatar, and I am now a physician living in San Francisco.

This year of the FIFA World Cup, I am speaking up against homophobia and I think we all should too.

I grew up in a very conservative Muslim society and family. I did not have access to the internet. I did not have access to the Western media and did not have any LGBT visibility around me.

When I was a young teen, I realized that I am different from most people. I did not know how to describe my difference from those around me, and there was no channel to simply discuss what I was experiencing. I thought this would be something that I would address when I am older and prepared to get married.

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