Homophobia Protest

EGYPT - LET MY PEOPLE GO!

On May 11, police raided a Cairo dance club and arrested the Egyptian
nationals who were inside on suspicion of being gay. The 52 men were
reportedly tortured and beaten following their arrest and are still
being held awaiting trial in the Emergency State Security Court on
August 15.

Demonstrations will be held in San Francisco and other cities around the
world on August 15 to let the Egyptian government know that the
oppression of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered people is not
acceptable in this day and age.

Please attend a background info session at Koret Auditorium (SF Public
Library - Civic Center, Grove Street entrance) on Sunday, August 12,
from 3:00 to 5:00 pm, with topics ranging from current Egyptian politics
and cultural and sexual mores, to the stance of Islam about
homosexuality, to AIDS education in a homophobic environment.

THEN

DEMONSTRATE AT THE EGYPTIAN CONSULATE GENERAL
When: Wednesday, August 15, starting at 3:00 pm (take off early from
work!)
Where: Corner of Broadway & Lyon, Presidio Heights, SF (Take #24
Divisadero bus from Castro district, get off at Jackson Street)
Bring handcuffs for symbolic photos behind an iron gate

ISLAM IS NOT HOMOPHOBIC, AND HOMOPHOBIA IS NOT ISLAMIC!

Endorsed by:
* Amnesty International, USA * Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies in
Religion & Ministry, Pacific School of Religion (Berkeley, USA) *
Companions on a Journey, Sri-lanka * GLAS - Gay and Lesbian Arab Society
(New York City, USA) * IGLHRC - International Gay and Lesbian Human
Rights Commission * Integrity Uganda (LGBT Episcopalians) * Integrity
USA (LGBT Episcopalians) * Khuli Zaban - South Asian and Middle Eastern
LBT Women's Group (Chicago, USA) * Lambda Istanbul (Turkey) * LGIRTF -
Lesbian & Gay Immigration Rights Task Force (USA) * LYRIC - Lavender
Youth Recreation & Information Center (San Francisco, USA) * ProGAY -
Progressive Organization of Gays in the Phillippines * Religious
Organizing Project of Kentucky (USA) * Salaamat - Queer Muslims &
Friends (Vancouver, Canada) * SWANABAQ - South West Asian & North
African Bay Area Queers (San Francisco Bay Area, USA) * UFMCC -
Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches (19 countries)

Contact: Faris Malik, SFBA Coordinator for Al-Fatiha LGBTQ Muslims, at
aquarius [at] well.com