Gender Roles and Sexual Orientation - Sexual Identity in Morocco

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Blogger Post 2: Gender Roles and Sexual Orientation 


My hometown of Brunswick, Georgia recently celebrated its first-ever public Pride Celebration event for the LGTBQ+ community this week while we have been touring in Morocco. I have seen many social media posts from my friends and community members in support of these individuals by attending and participating in the celebration with rainbow flags and colors everywhere and wearing various humorous t-shirts with sayings such as “I like my whiskey straight, but my friends can go either way,” or “Sounds Gay. I’m In!” While there are many Americans who do not support this lifestyle, it is clear that many do and wish to make their support public. 

I have not seen any evidence of LGBTQ+ support in Morocco - no rainbow flags anywhere, no t-shirts, and really no mention of sexuality whatsoever. I wondered why this may be the case - why is there apparent silence on this topic when there is so much pride in other places? As a straight American female, it is difficult for me to relate to the struggles that are faced by the LGBTQ+ community in the United States, and much less so with that of Moroccan LGBTQ+ individuals. While talking with our friends from ENA University, I considered asking about this subject but refrained due to the sensitive and potentially triggering nature of the topic. However, upon some discussion with my fellow travelers from the USA and further digging for information, I found that same-sex activity in Morocco is illegal. Moroccans do not have the same freedoms to participate in this lifestyle as we do in the United States. According to the Human Rights Foundation (2021) website, “In Morocco, the LGBT community faces a significant amount of persecution. Homosexuality is a crime; identifying as LGBT – simply being who you are as a person – can land you in jail. Beyond jail time, the LGBT community has also been subjected to public shaming and various forms of harassment and violence.” 

With the prominence and popularity of social media, it was hoped that LGBTQ+ persons in Morocco would be able to more easily interact with and connect to one another. However, there has been conflict among Moroccans on social media concerning LGBTQ+ persons, and rather than support and connection, many have still found only harassment and persecution purely based on sexual orientation and gender identity (Human Rights Foundation, 2021). Due to these conditions in the virtual and real world of Moroccan society, many in the LGBTQ+ community in Morocco live in fear or silence but continue to fight for their LGBTQ+ rights and the chance to be accepted publicly in their home country for who they truly are. 


Human Rights Foundation. (2021, June 17). LGBT community under increasing pressure in Morocco. https://hrf.org/lgbt-community-under-increasing-pressure-in-morocco/  

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