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The Principality of Pretty Boy

Qatar fails to offer safety guarantees to LGBTQ+ fans

Qatari authorities have failed to give a guarantee to travelling LGBTQ+ supporters that they will be safe at the World Cup, prompting leading organisations to advocate against travel to the tournament.

The Guardian this week presented the Supreme Committee, the body in charge of organising the World Cup, with a series of direct questions related to LGBTQ+ fans and their concerns, but received no specific answers.

The questions included whether:

LGBTQ+ people would be protected by Qatari authorities if threatened because of their sexuality.
Articles of the Qatari penal code, including those which outlaw “leading, instigating or seducing a male in any way to commit sodomy”, would be suspended during the tournament.

Fans carrying rainbow flags would be allowed to take them into stadiums.

The Supreme Committee would specifically welcome LGBTQ+ people as World Cup visitors.

A general reply said: “Everyone will be welcome to Qatar in 2022, regardless of their race, background, religion, gender, sexual orientation or nationality. We are a relatively conservative society – for example, public displays of affection are not a part of our culture. We believe in mutual respect and so whilst everyone is welcome, what we expect in return is for everyone to respect our culture and traditions.”

(….)

An unwillingness on the part of Qatari authorities to address concerns directly, or even to mention the term LGBTQ+, has led to a situation where groups are effectively recommending a boycott of the tournament.

Lou Englefield of the organisation Football v Homophobia said: “I know of no European LGBTIQ supporters’ group, or individual supporters, who are currently planning to attend this World Cup. The position of the Supreme Committee is just not in keeping with the undertakings they must have given to Fifa. How can an international sporting event which expects millions of visitors not be open to reassuring a large minority group who have well-founded fears that they will be safe and welcome? We have never seen anything like this.”

The Guardian, 30 June 2022

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