"Emo Killings"

In researching for current events, I came across a New York Times Article entitled, "Threats and Killings Striking Fear Among Young Iraqis, Including Gays." Over the past couple of weeks, a wave of killings and intimidation aimed at Iraqi gays and teenagers associated with the latest "emo phenomenon" have been circulating in Baghdad. Iraqi newspapers call them "emo killings" targeted at what human rights advocates describe as gay men and teenagers who style themselves in a uniquely Iraqi collage of hipster, punk, emo and goth fashions." Many see the look as a result of the blooming of Iraqi society since the end of the war and departure of American troops, while religious conservatives have expressed their outrage and opposition to the look, directly associating it with homosexuality. The Iraqi government is said to be unsuccessful in protecting the youth, denying that these killings have even occurred. It claims that the media has produced the stories in order to embarrass the country. However, the article states that the Iraqi government was in fact the first to label the emo youth as a "public menace," calling the look Satanic. According to the New York Times article, the Social Police in Iraq have received authority to further investigate the "emo situation" by going into Baghdad schools and "eliminating" those found to be associated with the trend.

Many gays have been received threatening letters, saying things like “Reform your behavior, stop being gay, or face deadly consequences.” The beatings and killings of gays by Islamist militias in Shiite areas of Baghdad have been going on for at least six years now. An estimated 750 gays have been killed, while many others have emigrated to the north for safety. Those that remain in Baghdad are continuously chastised, facing discrimination and threats every day. In an effort to repress their gay and emo identities, many youth cover their long hair and hide deep in the closet.

In the US, we see these kinds of things happening (not exactly to the degree in Iraq) – members of the LGBT community being constantly bullied and harassed and driven to the point of suicide. So it makes me wonder; what solutions are there to combating these issues? Are there any solutions? I know that we can’t change everyone’s opinions of the LGBT community but do you think we can at least get to a point of tolerance in order to ensure the safety of members of this group?

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/12/world/middleeast/killings-strike-fear-in-iraqi-gay-and-emo-youth.html?pagewanted=2&ref=hatecrimes