LGBTQ cruise gets wake up call on Islamic culture

Earlier this month, a cruise ship full of homosexual men set sail from Athens.The itinerary sounded wonderfully progressive.The Scarlet Lady, that's the ship, would sail to Turkey so the almost 2 ,000 gay men on board could mingle with the locals and get a taste for Islamic culture.Here's a little taste of what was headed Turkey's way.Plot twist visible from the International Space Station, Turkish authorities refused permission for the ship to dock.I know, right?

It's a decision no one on what had been advertised as an epic all -gay cruise could possibly have seen coming.But Turkish authorities complained the LGBTQ ship was populated by, and I quote, groups known for behaviours that do not align with the structure of our society and our moral values.Now, just in case anyone was tempted to search for hidden nuances, they added this.There is absolutely no possibility of the group in question visiting our province for an event of this nature.Subtle as a brick through a stained -glass window.The passengers, however, well, they seemed genuinely bewildered.

And you can almost understand why.I mean, after years of being told that Islamists and LGBTQ activists are natural allies against Western oppression, it must have come as something of a culture shock to discover the alliance only exists on university campuses.But their disappointment quickly turned to sparkles when the cruise captain announced they'd head to Egypt instead.Here's one of the passengers who also works for the cruise organizer.

Gay cruise update.Okay, so I'm on the gay cruise that was denied entry into Turkey and it's like, so what?Who cares?If you want a great hair transplant, go for it.Korea.So we redirect.

We're going to Egypt now instead.Amazing.

Now, maybe it's just me, but Turkey said no, Egypt will love us.Never struck me as a great plan B, especially when travel advisories have been politely trying to lower expectations for years.The intrepid travel website warns.Egypt is not a safe destination for LGBTQ travelers.Public attitudes towards same -sex partnerships are openly hostile and can include physical violence.And yet the ship full of gay men headed for Egypt anyway, with everyone excitedly waving rainbow flags.

Then came another entirely unforeseeable development.

Woke up this morning, denied entry into Egyptian waters as well.Well, I can't imagine the surprise.No, this doesn't say explicitly because we're gay, but it's because we're gay.