Comments on: Leading novelist pulls out of Dubai book festival in protest at gay censorship http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-11222.html/ PinkNews.co.uk Gay News (UK and world) from Pink News - all the gay news for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered community in the UK and beyond- thegaynews from Pink News Tue, 24 Nov 2009 09:21:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Riondo http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-11222.html/comment-page-1/#comment-44699 Riondo Wed, 25 Feb 2009 14:57:38 +0000 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-11222.html#comment-44699 I once saw a documentary about Brits buying property in this nasty little dictatorship who were complaining about sharp local practice and dodgy contracts regarding their luxury high-rise condos. What the hell did they expect? Everyone should boycott the place, not just writers. I once saw a documentary about Brits buying property in this nasty little dictatorship who were complaining about sharp local practice and dodgy contracts regarding their luxury high-rise condos. What the hell did they expect? Everyone should boycott the place, not just writers.

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]]> By: Sam http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-11222.html/comment-page-1/#comment-44349 Sam Thu, 19 Feb 2009 21:03:32 +0000 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-11222.html#comment-44349 Proud to be a fellow Canadian today. :-) Tried to find contact info for M.A. to send her a Thank You note, but had no success. Hope it'll get back to her some way. And no - I don't think it would've caused the same effect if she'd gone there and tried to raise a stink. THIS will make headlines. It's still trying to change things from within. By attending the event, she'd have approved of the practice. And yes, Ms. Duffy should really reconsider her appearance there. She should also be aware of the possible personal danger of going there as an open lesbian. Proud to be a fellow Canadian today. :-) Tried to find contact info for M.A. to send her a Thank You note, but had no success. Hope it'll get back to her some way. And no – I don't think it would've caused the same effect if she'd gone there and tried to raise a stink. THIS will make headlines. It's still trying to change things from within. By attending the event, she'd have approved of the practice. And yes, Ms. Duffy should really reconsider her appearance there. She should also be aware of the possible personal danger of going there as an open lesbian.

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]]> By: Graham http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-11222.html/comment-page-1/#comment-44317 Graham Thu, 19 Feb 2009 17:57:25 +0000 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-11222.html#comment-44317 Thank you Margaret Atwood. I have been an admirer of your writing ever since I first read Surfacing, in 74, I have always felt there is a truth in your writing now I see by your actions I was not wrong. In Fiction there is truth. Thank you Margaret Atwood. I have been an admirer of your writing ever since I first read Surfacing, in 74, I have always felt there is a truth in your writing now I see by your actions I was not wrong. In Fiction there is truth.

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]]> By: PlainJane http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-11222.html/comment-page-1/#comment-44290 PlainJane Thu, 19 Feb 2009 13:56:50 +0000 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-11222.html#comment-44290 Just looked at the Dubai Book Festival website and it seems that the poet Carol Ann Duffy (who is openly lesbian) is meant to be appearing as well. Surely the woman who wrote 'Warming Her Pearls' and many, many other lesbian poems cannot still be planning to attend? Why have they invited an openly gay writer (who often writes gay-themed pieces) is they're then going to censor any homosexuality? Might be worth us all checking out if any of the writers who are meant to attending are authors we generally read/like and contacting them to make them aware of the censorship and ask them to consider boycotting the event. Just looked at the Dubai Book Festival website and it seems that the poet Carol Ann Duffy (who is openly lesbian) is meant to be appearing as well. Surely the woman who wrote 'Warming Her Pearls' and many, many other lesbian poems cannot still be planning to attend? Why have they invited an openly gay writer (who often writes gay-themed pieces) is they're then going to censor any homosexuality? Might be worth us all checking out if any of the writers who are meant to attending are authors we generally read/like and contacting them to make them aware of the censorship and ask them to consider boycotting the event.

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]]> By: davevauxhall http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-11222.html/comment-page-1/#comment-44267 davevauxhall Thu, 19 Feb 2009 11:51:57 +0000 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-11222.html#comment-44267 More reason to love Margaret Atwood as if there wasn't enough already, hurrah! More reason to love Margaret Atwood as if there wasn't enough already, hurrah!

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]]> By: Chris(tine) http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-11222.html/comment-page-1/#comment-44255 Chris(tine) Thu, 19 Feb 2009 10:30:03 +0000 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-11222.html#comment-44255 Thank you, Margaret Atwood! I admire you. Thank you, Margaret Atwood! I admire you.

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]]> By: andy http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-11222.html/comment-page-1/#comment-44254 andy Thu, 19 Feb 2009 10:28:14 +0000 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-11222.html#comment-44254 Dubai, i lived there but broke my contract after 4 months and came home. it's "progressive" in as far as western women don't have to cover excessively, and non Muslims can buy alcohol freely, that's it. When i was working there companies with contracts with the dubai government were sacking employees known or suspected of being gay, and back ground checks were introduced to try and prevent gay people being hired in the first place. The unsurprising thing though was it was the easiest country i ever visited in which to get gay sex with Muslims. I got curb crawled regularly just walking home from work by Arabs guys in the full white robes offering me a lift, and once you got in the car their hands went straight for your thighs... bunch of complete hypocrites!!!! I am delighted that Margaret Atwood has stood up for her principles, if the other big names writers did the same, it would send a clear message, but most will put their wallets before their principles, if they have any. And Jamie, she wouldn't have raised any awareness by going and speaking out, all media is censored, no negative comment she made would be reported.... Dubai, i lived there but broke my contract after 4 months and came home. it's "progressive" in as far as western women don't have to cover excessively, and non Muslims can buy alcohol freely, that's it. When i was working there companies with contracts with the dubai government were sacking employees known or suspected of being gay, and back ground checks were introduced to try and prevent gay people being hired in the first place. The unsurprising thing though was it was the easiest country i ever visited in which to get gay sex with Muslims. I got curb crawled regularly just walking home from work by Arabs guys in the full white robes offering me a lift, and once you got in the car their hands went straight for your thighs… bunch of complete hypocrites!!!! I am delighted that Margaret Atwood has stood up for her principles, if the other big names writers did the same, it would send a clear message, but most will put their wallets before their principles, if they have any. And Jamie, she wouldn't have raised any awareness by going and speaking out, all media is censored, no negative comment she made would be reported….

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]]> By: John Rendle http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-11222.html/comment-page-1/#comment-44236 John Rendle Thu, 19 Feb 2009 03:09:47 +0000 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-11222.html#comment-44236 I too admire Margaret for her stand. This sort of attitude is typical of the region. Why anyone would want to visit there, let alone live there, is beyond me. There is nothing modern about it except some of the buildings! And I would never fly Emirates either. I would never support a regime that is so restrictive of women, as well as gay. I too admire Margaret for her stand. This sort of attitude is typical of the region. Why anyone would want to visit there, let alone live there, is beyond me. There is nothing modern about it except some of the buildings! And I would never fly Emirates either. I would never support a regime that is so restrictive of women, as well as gay.

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]]> By: Brenton H http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-11222.html/comment-page-1/#comment-44221 Brenton H Thu, 19 Feb 2009 00:07:19 +0000 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-11222.html#comment-44221 Well done , Margaret Atwood. Not only a champion of human rights, but does so much to support the conservation of the world's rarest birds! Well done , Margaret Atwood. Not only a champion of human rights, but does so much to support the conservation of the world's rarest birds!

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]]> By: Jaime Bridle http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-11222.html/comment-page-1/#comment-44206 Jaime Bridle Wed, 18 Feb 2009 20:27:25 +0000 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-11222.html#comment-44206 It might have been interesting to see how much awareness she could have raised by attending the event and then being outspoken about the issue while there. It might have been interesting to see how much awareness she could have raised by attending the event and then being outspoken about the issue while there.

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]]> By: Har Davids http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-11222.html/comment-page-1/#comment-44200 Har Davids Wed, 18 Feb 2009 19:53:45 +0000 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-11222.html#comment-44200 Too bad we still need these people's oil, but I don't understand people talking about 'modern' Dubai; it's bling-bling bitogs. Too bad we still need these people's oil, but I don't understand people talking about 'modern' Dubai; it's bling-bling bitogs.

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]]> By: Terry Floyd Johnson http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-11222.html/comment-page-1/#comment-44187 Terry Floyd Johnson Wed, 18 Feb 2009 18:00:56 +0000 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-11222.html#comment-44187 3 cheers for Margaret Atwood, who stands behind her beliefs 3 cheers for Margaret Atwood, who stands behind her beliefs

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]]> By: Iris http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-11222.html/comment-page-1/#comment-44178 Iris Wed, 18 Feb 2009 16:48:17 +0000 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-11222.html#comment-44178 Well done, Margaret Atwood! I hope the organisers think about their reaction to the book now that a very famous writer has pulled out because of their discrimination. And I hope others pull out too. I'm sure they would if some country complained because a book had a black character so let's hope they do in this case. Well done, Margaret Atwood! I hope the organisers think about their reaction to the book now that a very famous writer has pulled out because of their discrimination. And I hope others pull out too. I'm sure they would if some country complained because a book had a black character so let's hope they do in this case.

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]]> By: Simon Murphy http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-11222.html/comment-page-1/#comment-44174 Simon Murphy Wed, 18 Feb 2009 16:38:11 +0000 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-11222.html#comment-44174 I hope she inspires other writers to pull out as well. Dubai should not be regarded as a progressive state if it still jails people for homosexual acts. It should be treated as the facist dump that it is. I hope she inspires other writers to pull out as well. Dubai should not be regarded as a progressive state if it still jails people for homosexual acts. It should be treated as the facist dump that it is.

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]]> By: Flapjack http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-11222.html/comment-page-1/#comment-44169 Flapjack Wed, 18 Feb 2009 16:13:43 +0000 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-11222.html#comment-44169 Good on Margaret Atwood. If Dubai wants to be seen as progressive, it should put its money where its mouth is. It's all very well to pour money into making it a modern world class tourist destination but if their politics is still stuck in the middle ages, more people should vote with their feet. Good on Margaret Atwood. If Dubai wants to be seen as progressive, it should put its money where its mouth is. It's all very well to pour money into making it a modern world class tourist destination but if their politics is still stuck in the middle ages, more people should vote with their feet.

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