The discussion we’ve been having about sexuality and Islam is fascinating. Keep the emails coming. Here’s one that’s worth airing:
"I have been to Turkey several times. The first time I visited, I was shocked by the reaction I elicited simply from my appearance. I’m a six foot tall middle-aged man with blue eyes and blond hair. Anyone who has been to Turkey, knows the importance of "the blue eye", or "nazar boncuk". An amulet to ward off evil. You see them everywhere. I was told that I had nothing to fear in Turkey, because of my eyes. I wasn’t so sure.
The Grand Bazaar is an enormous semi-outdoor market, with hundreds of little booths, selling everything from rugs to spices. There are virtually no women. The entrance is a long sloping ramp, from which one is visable to nearly the entire market. As I walked down that ramp, a near total silence fell over the crowd. Then there a buzzing murmer of male voices, which I tried to tell myself wasn’t directed at me.
During that afternoon, I was flirted with, offered dinner invitations, a place to stay the night, a free rug, and (if I’m not mistaken), even one rug vendors nephew. No-one was rude exactly (except in their assumptions), and I’d be lying if I said that I wasn’t flattered in a way. However, knowing the repressive rules of Islam, I couldn’t help but be amazed at the complete openess of their behavior. I don’t appear in any way gay, unless blue/blond is considered fair game in the Arab world.
My friends refused to believe me, until they saw it first hand. I went back with a couple from Spain. Brown eyes, black hair. We went to the Bazaar, and it happened again exactly as I had described it to them. Their jaws dropped."
No luck for a bald guy with brown eyes?
The Dish 