Princesses of Sheba at Night
Anisse (alias Anissa) was born in France, but considers himself Algerian. When he was eighteen, he left France to find work in Saudi Arabia. As with his Arab friends, he finds it easier to get work there, despite being able to speak English and Arabic. Eventually, he returned to France because he missed his family, who don’t talk about his homosexuality.
During his interview with Delphine, he offered some insight on his daily life. “I was attacked by a bunch of guys the other day while walking around the Street Food Market of Noailles,” he said. “I recognized one of them because we chatted together on a gay website just a few days before. When I told his friends, he ran away. So often I find that gay people tend to be the most aggressive ones against other homosexuals—and this aggression is even stronger with Arabs.”
During his interview with Delphine, he offered some insight on his daily life. “I was attacked by a bunch of guys the other day while walking around the Street Food Market of Noailles,” he said. “I recognized one of them because we chatted together on a gay website just a few days before. When I told his friends, he ran away. So often I find that gay people tend to be the most aggressive ones against other homosexuals—and this aggression is even stronger with Arabs.”
Hamza (alias Mey) was born in Lebanon to a Lebanese mother and Algerian father. In 2014, he moved to France to marry a man he met on-line; they divorced soon after. Now, Hamza avoids dating men since he tends to attract hyper-masculine, controlling men. He plans to undergo sex reassignment surgery, saying that his dream is “to become a real woman and adopt a child. Then I will be happy."
Yarra (a pseudonym) left Maghreb because he was scared he would endanger his relatives if his homosexuality was discovered. As a son in a military family, his homosexuality was absolutely unacceptable in his social class. Diagnosed and treated while very young for a "testosterone deficit" by numerous doctors, Yarra underwent all types of dubious “treatments,” including being sent to a military compound in order to be “verilized” where he was beaten, humiliated, and undernourished.
“I came here because I am afraid for my family. I’m scared to get out of my male role—to slip up. I was a timebomb for them.” |
Sofiane (alias Rawel) lives with his family near Marseilles. During weekends, he often gets locked in his room by his parents so no one will see him and bring disgrace to his family. Advised to be patient by social counselors by the Association le Refuge, he's waiting until his 18th birthday to run away.
His mother and brothers don’t accept his homosexuality, but his father and sisters are more tolerant, as long as he doesn’t talk about it, makes enough effort to conceal it, and dresses “properly.” According to Sofiane, their varying levels of tolerance are directly linked to religious views. "My sisters got out of the religion,” he says. “I think one could embrace religion while respecting others. But being repeatedly attacked by Arabic people who justify themselves in the name of religion, I don’t want to share any specific religion anymore. I believe in God and I want to make my own.”
His mother and brothers don’t accept his homosexuality, but his father and sisters are more tolerant, as long as he doesn’t talk about it, makes enough effort to conceal it, and dresses “properly.” According to Sofiane, their varying levels of tolerance are directly linked to religious views. "My sisters got out of the religion,” he says. “I think one could embrace religion while respecting others. But being repeatedly attacked by Arabic people who justify themselves in the name of religion, I don’t want to share any specific religion anymore. I believe in God and I want to make my own.”
Jalil (alias Popia), twenty-six years old, left Algeria on a small motor boat less than a year ago to reach Italy and then France, where friends of his lived. Under threat by a brother just out of prison, he hid himself for a month before making this escape from his home country. Convinced he was about to die there, he had nothing to lose by risking his life at sea.
“Now I prostitute myself in order to survive. I am not ashamed of it. It’s nothing. I have no choice anyway, as I barely speak French.” Since Popai is gay, and if he returned to Algeria his life would be in danger, he is hopeful that an application for asylum to France will be granted. |
Omar (alias Mano) was brought up by his grandmother. His father left home soon after his birth, and his mother couldn't raise him and his older sister by herself, although she came to visit as often as possible. Five years ago he left Algeria to live with one of his aunts in Marseille until that relationship became difficult. He is now twenty-one years old and he will earn his bachelor’s degree in June 2018.
Mano is still in love with a young man who lives in Algeria. They call each other everyday and meet sometimes in Tunisia since his boyfriend doesn’t have a visa to visit France and Mano doesn't want to go back to Algeria, where his family doesn’t accept his homosexuality. “I was beaten, harassed, and endured homophobic insults—I know them all. Still, I remain strong. The other day I was attacked by a black guy who tried to flirt with me while being totally stoned. Two Arabs stood up for me, saying, ‘Leave her alone!’ I wonder what they would have done if they hadn’t thought I was a girl...” |
ED NOTE: Pronouns were used this way by the project owners.
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