Police in Dubai have arrested several men and women for cross-dressing in what they said was a campaign to preserve the social values of the cosmopolitan Gulf Arab trade and tourism hub, newspapers reported on Monday.

"We have noted an emerging trend of men dressed as women and vice versa in the UAE markets and streets," the Khaleej Times daily quoted Dubai Police Chief Dhahi Khalfan as saying.

"Several men in women's dresses and make-up have already been arrested from shopping malls and residential buildings," he said.

The detainees were being referred to the public prosecutor as part of the one-week campaign called "Preserve Our Social Values", though it was not clear what charges would be brought.



Source (http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2008/05/26/50474.html)

At the end of the article: "Tourists may wear bikinis and drink cocktails at hotel nightclubs but homosexual behavior is banned."

I think it's a great move, if only they applied these rules on Westerners too. The police only caught Arabs, as for the Westerners, they were allowed to wear whatever they want: Cross-dressing, bikinis ...

What's wrong with you, you homophobe! Cross dressing is perfectly normal.

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c325/ivory_masque/germans.jpg
I want my hair to groooooooowwwww!

Love to see some cross dressing Dubians.

Edit: Too bad Michael J. Your turn next. :D

^ Next to that, our cross-dressers could be considered religious! :p

Personally I don't like it but would love to see what a cross dressing Dubain looks like because I cannot picture it.

^ Next to that, our cross-dressers could be considered religious! :p

And what religion would that be? :D

Love to see some cross dressing Dubians.

They still wear the dishdash... but Really, Really tight. So tight that if you'd mistakenly glance at them, you'd go to confession the next day for not lowering your gaze. So disgusting. I'm glad they were caught.

They still wear the dishdash... but Really, Really tight. So tight that if you'd mistakenly glance at them, you'd go to confession the next day for not lowering your gaze. So disgusting. I'm glad they were caught.

Oh, but you don't KNOW why they are doing it. Perhaps they just have a skin rash.

hahahahaa good one :P

---
WHen i was in Dubai i never seen any thign like that.. But what i did see was a guy ( 25 + ish ) was holding two girls hands ( they were wearing th highest heels ive ever seen in my life + perfume that i could smell from 10 million miles away + chingalingy accessories and ontop of all that they're faces were covered,wearing abaya's and they were goign to a club at a hotel ( i saw them walk towards it) and the dude kept saying things like hurry up girls.. we gotta dance all night.. plus some dity things :/ and they were just ahaha , giggling

Interesting. Covered faces but going to a club for what? Ironic.

Oh, Oman has its fair share of gentleman with a thing for eyeliner and heels - I'll never forget the first time I saw a young gent in dishdasha, leopardskin massar, and full makeup! Clearly, he didn't worry about plucking his eyebrows.

As for Dubai - any "morality" campaign there is going to have an air of closing the barn door after the horses are long gone. In the immortal words of Carole King - "It's too late, baby"!

I expect it's a minority opinion in these parts, but it seems to me that sooner or later Arab cultures are going to have to own up to the diversity in their midst, as many in the West are doing. It's something that I think is making our societies richer, stronger, and more just.

^ to get down and hit the floor:hyper:

I dunno.. it a choice they have made. But Probably to get down :P

Oh, Oman has its fair share of gentleman with a thing for eyeliner and heels - I'll never forget the first time I saw a young gent in dishdasha, leopardskin massar, and full makeup! Clearly, he didn't worry about plucking his eyebrows.

As for Dubai - any "morality" campaign there is going to have an air of closing the barn door after the horses are long gone. In the immortal words of Carole King - "It's too late, baby"!

I expect it's a minority opinion in these parts, but it seems to me that sooner or later Arab cultures are going to have to own up to the diversity in their midst, as many in the West are doing. It's something that I think is making our societies richer, stronger, and more just.

Omani men who do that sort of thing are called Xaniths and I have seen pictures of them. They wear makeup better than I could ever hope to do!

What's wrong with you, you homophobe! Cross dressing is perfectly normal.

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c325/ivory_masque/germans.jpg
I want my hair to groooooooowwwww!
I just remembered this:
(A "homophobe" always sounds to me like some computer with mechanical arms that you send to Mars to collect soil samples or something: "Alright, Roger that Houston. Prepare to deploy the homophobe.")
:hyper:

Interesting. Covered faces but going to a club for what? Ironic.


to conceal their identities, out of decency

Well, from what I understand of the culture there what those girls are doing is indecent.

to conceal their identities, out of decency
The accepted word is 'hypocrisy'.

It's something that I think is making our societies richer, stronger, and more just.

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c325/ivory_masque/germans.jpg
Richer, stronger and more just.

one note :
cross dressing and homosexuality are two different things.

one note :
cross dressing and homosexuality are two different things.

A sour note.

Piffle; stuff and nonsense.

Well, from what I understand of the culture there what those girls are doing is indecent.

Since when has covering the face become indecent?

A sour note.

Piffle; stuff and nonsense.
many family men wear their wives' underwear. they don't find men attractive, but have the cross dressing fetish. in the uk there are support lines for such men.
homosexuality is being attracted and sexually aroused by a person of your own gender.
grotesque female impersonation (like the people whose photos you put up) can be done by gays and heteros.

Since when has covering the face become indecent?

I said where they are GOING is indecent.

many family men wear their wives' underwear. they don't find men attractive, but have the cross dressing fetish. in the uk there are support lines for such men.
homosexuality is being attracted and sexually aroused by a person of your own gender.
grotesque female impersonation (like the people whose photos you put up) can be done by gays and heteros.

I don't think I'd go for my hubby wearing my girlie boxers but I have heard of this.

one note :
cross dressing and homosexuality are two different things.

Indeed they are; in fact, the vast majority of "cross dressers" (that is, people wearing women's clothing to satisfy some unexpressed inner need, as opposed to the colorful specimens Jeff is choosing, who are drag queens - that is, likely gay men indulging in a form of comic performance) are heterosexual. Very few out gay men in the West ever cross dress, even as a joke (although I have to say that those who do can be quite entertaining!).

What's especially interesting about the crackdown on both cross-dressing and homosexuality in Dubai right now is that it's coming at the same time as the major commotion about "National Identity," which is clearly a serius anxiety for the Emiratis - not least (although this is about as little discussed there as xaniths are in Oman) because it's an "identity" for only about 10% of the population.

I don't think I'd go for my hubby wearing my girlie boxers but I have heard of this.
i wouldn't either.... but the support groups are not there to be in favour of the cross-dresser, but to help the couple with the 'secret'.

many family men wear their wives' underwear. they don't find men attractive, but have the cross dressing fetish. in the uk there are support lines for such men.
homosexuality is being attracted and sexually aroused by a person of your own gender.
grotesque female impersonation (like the people whose photos you put up) can be done by gays and heteros.

Do you think I'm dumb? I'm not falling for that garbage, Minny.

SOME non-homosexuals do weird stuff. OCCASIONALLY that weird stuff involves cross dressing.

MANY MANY homosexuals cross dress or do other sexually perverse things, because homosexuality is men acting like women.

"Grotesque female impersonation" is achingly common at Gay Pride Parades, in gay bars, on gay websites...just as the adoption of female mannerisms is.

So, cross dressing and homosexuality are not the same. Fine. Trees and leaves are not the same either.

All I can say is:

"Ya nhar essssssssssswed wemnayyyyyyyel!"
O black cursed night!

I said where they are GOING is indecent.

You said what they are DOING is indecent.


Well, from what I understand of the culture there what those girls are doing is indecent.

Oh, Oman has its fair share of gentleman with a thing for eyeliner and heels - I'll never forget the first time I saw a young gent in dishdasha, leopardskin massar, and full makeup! Clearly, he didn't worry about plucking his eyebrows.

As for Dubai - any "morality" campaign there is going to have an air of closing the barn door after the horses are long gone. In the immortal words of Carole King - "It's too late, baby"!

I expect it's a minority opinion in these parts, but it seems to me that sooner or later Arab cultures are going to have to own up to the diversity in their midst, as many in the West are doing. It's something that I think is making our societies richer, stronger, and more just.

Why do Arab cultures have that 'inevitable choice'? Why is it that we are EXPECTED to ACCEPT homosexuality as something totally 'normal' or 'okay' when we are mainly Muslim societies who have direct instructions we believe are genuine from God, against ever accepting this as anything that's 'normal'? God, even the Bible says it's not normal, seriously!

dunno jeff....
i know gay men and none of them cross dress.
i went to a gay bar and i didn't see cross dressers. rather over stylish people, everything designer primmed and manicured. and i didn't see any loutish behaviour either.
to me those kind of cross dressers are either at a cross dressing party, or like that in a parade, as you mentioned. i think many guys who dress like women 'just for fun' are closet gays.

Why do Arab cultures have that 'inevitable choice'? Why is it that we are EXPECTED to ACCEPT homosexuality as something totally 'normal' or 'okay' when we are mainly Muslim societies who have direct instructions we believe are genuine from God, against ever accepting this as anything that's 'normal'? God, even the Bible says it's not normal, seriously!

Go, Thready! Don't let them hypnotize you with the same paralyzing nonsense that has made us afraid to state the obvious.

If you can believe homosexuality is normal, you can believe ANYTHING. Anything at all.

There is nothing more obviously untrue than the idea that homosexuality is normal. And as long as you don't let them put you on the defensive, you will be able to see that.

i went to a gay bar and i didn't see cross dressers.

Does that mean they dont exist?

Go, Thready! Don't let them hypnotize you with the same paralyzing nonsense that has made us afraid to state the obvious.

If you can believe homosexuality is normal, you can believe ANYTHING. Anything at all.

There is nothing more obviously untrue than the idea that homosexuality is normal. And as long as you don't let them put you on the defensive, you will be able to see that.

Well said, Mr Jeff

Does that mean they dont exist?
duh.
come carnival over here you see many macho men dressing up as women 'for a laugh'. god knows they wait for carnival 364 days a year, to get that one big release of wearing stilettos and a skin tight skirt

You said what they are DOING is indecent.

Doing, going same thing.

dunno jeff....
i know gay men and none of them cross dress.
i went to a gay bar and i didn't see cross dressers. rather over stylish people, everything designer primmed and manicured. and i didn't see any loutish behaviour either.
to me those kind of cross dressers are either at a cross dressing party, or like that in a parade, as you mentioned. i think many guys who dress like women 'just for fun' are closet gays.

I know gay men that don't cross dress too! So what? What's that got to do with it? I said it's COMMON and far more common than among straights. Just try image googling "Gay Pride Parade" and see what you get.

Those who don't cross dress are very often as you say, "designer primmed and manicured". And many others use female mannerisms.

Some don't.

But homosexuality and cross dressing go together like cheese and crackers. Men who want to be treated like women in bed act like women in many other ways too.

They are terribly confused, poor dears.

I'm not buying what you're selling, Minny.

come carnival over here you see many macho men dressing up as women 'for a laugh'. god knows they wait for carnival 364 days a year, to get that one big release of wearing stilettos and a skin tight skirt

Thanks, you r so kind, I accept the invitation. Does it include free boarding?

I know gay men that don't cross dress too! So what? What's that got to do with it? I said it's COMMON and far more common than among straights. Just try image googling "Gay Pride Parade" and see what you get.

Those who don't cross dress are very often as you say, "designer primmed and manicured". And many others use female mannerisms.

Some don't.

But homosexuality and cross dressing go together like cheese and crackers. Men who want to be treated like women in bed act like women in many other ways too.

They are terribly confused, poor dears.

I'm not buying what you're selling, Minny.
it's ok you don't have to.
:)

Anyway, good move, Dubai.

Don't listen to the people who tell you it's inevitable, you've already lost the battle, the barn door is open and the horses have left....

Life is tough. Sin and nastiness are pervasive. We never win entirely against them.

But we can try.

Every person who turns away from this horrible nonsense is a victory. Every person who gets up and resolves to try again to be sane and normal is a victory. Every child who doesn't have to see someone acting like that is a victory.

We win only by trying to do what's right. And even if we fail, we win.

Inappropriate photos have been deleted!

Anyway, good move, Dubai.

Don't listen to the people who tell you it's inevitable, you've already lost the battle, the barn door is open and the horses have left....

Life is tough. Sin and nastiness are pervasive. We never win entirely against them.

But we can try.

Every person who turns away from this horrible nonsense is a victory. Every person who gets up and resolves to try again to be sane and normal is a victory. Every child who doesn't have to see someone acting like that is a victory.

We win only by trying to do what's right. And even if we fail, we win.

I 10000000% agree!

I don't think the cross dressers that were mentioned in the report are local ones.
Dubai has a huuuuuuuuuuuuge variety of nationalities and very few locals can be spotted there!

btw. i don't agree with cross dressers out in the open.
if they want to do so, they can do it away from the eyes of children.

Why do Arab cultures have that 'inevitable choice'? Why is it that we are EXPECTED to ACCEPT homosexuality as something totally 'normal' or 'okay' when we are mainly Muslim societies who have direct instructions we believe are genuine from God, against ever accepting this as anything that's 'normal'? God, even the Bible says it's not normal, seriously!

Well, to me the happiness of millions of sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc., would seem a pretty compelling argument, but obviously I'm not bound by the same religious principles.

I do know many, many gay Arabs, and they very much wish they could live as full members of their societies.

And I do think that, just as in the West, as more people encounter gay people who are (whether or not Jeff believes it possible) quite normal, acceptance, even in the face of continuing religious concerns (which I believe everyone is entirely free to have), will come.

Very good move Dubai :super: . Immorality is becoming something normal these days. It should be stopped. There will be some people who will criticize the move but who cares. We should follow our Islamic rules that's it.

In a Muslim country .. I understand the move. But in western countries, I don't see why it should be banned. I don't understand what's wrong in it anyway..
Everyone is free to choose whatever s/he likes.

It's not banned in the west, is't ?

Gay behaviours ? no way.
Gay marriage are allowed in some countries actually ..

But don't you think it's wrong to allow it ? Yes people have choice but where does morality go ? Doesn't this affect the society negatively ?

^

wtf difference does it make to you or anyone else if 2 consenting adults have a relationship?

Against the nature. Immoral. All religions refuse it. Not healthy . :rolleyes:

But don't you think it's wrong to allow it ? Yes people have choice but where does morality go ? Doesn't this affect the society negatively ?

How does it affect society negatively?

Who is being harmed here?

Nicobambi, I was referring to the Westerners IN Dubai. The rules were only applied on Arabs.

So two walking together, an Arab and a non-Arab. Both cross-dressing. Only the Arab is caught.

How does it affect society negatively?

Who is being harmed here?

When children see two guys cross dressing every where then it will become normal. An this will spoil the kids minds in knowing what's wrong and what's right. Besides, it encourages sodomy when the men act like women.

cross dressing should be banned because it's a caricature.
gay people don't have to cross-dress, actually nobody has to cross dress.
if a guy wants to show his feminine side, there are more ways to show it rather than cross dressing.
if you see a cross dresser, call the fashion police. it looks awful.

To give you an idea of how left wing media try to make the abnormal normal.

Last night on the way back from work, talk radio was discussing how a school yearbook (I forgot in which state) had published pictures of 'couples' - students who were romantically involved. This year they included pictures of lesbian couples. There was outrage in the state including the ex governor who denounced it and said the left wing was trying to 'normalize' it.

The host, as left wing as they come, was of the opinion that it was no big deal and that kids didn't really care and sexuality wasn't a big deal anymore.

He got call after call, mostly from students, who disagreed, telling him that they cared but the preferred NOT to make a big fuss about it. They said that they felt homosexuality was wrong but they preferred not to stand in judgment of their peers.

The host would have none of that and stood by his position that kid's didn't care anymore.

Even though he had been proven wrong on air.

To give you an idea of how left wing media try to make the abnormal normal.

Last night on the way back from work, talk radio was discussing how a school yearbook (I forgot in which state) had published pictures of 'couples' - students who were romantically involved. This year they included pictures of lesbian couples. There was outrage in the state including the ex governor who denounced it and said the left wing was trying to 'normalize' it.

The host, as left wing as they come, was of the opinion that it was no big deal and that kids didn't really care and sexuality wasn't a big deal anymore.

He got call after call, mostly from students, who disagreed, telling him that they cared but the preferred NOT to make a big fuss about it. They said that they felt homosexuality was wrong but they preferred not to stand in judgment of their peers.

The host would have none of that and stood by his position that kid's didn't care anymore.

Even though he had been proven wrong on air.
that's stupid because until you reach maturity you can't really tell whether you are homo or hetero.
and really, couples should be left out of a school year book. wtf. they are too young.

Did I mention I was seething behind the wheel ?

Did I mention I was seething behind the wheel ?
i would have been your seething passenger as well.

Minerva is right.

I know LOADS of guys who've dressed up as women in Carnival for a laugh. I don't know one of them that's gay.

Gay doesn't mean you cross-dress and cross-dressing doesn't mean you are gay.

It means you either are comfortable in that wear (could be gay/closet gay) or you have a wicked sense of humour and are comfortable enough with your own Hetero sexuality to dress up as a woman for a laugh and not feel any less of a man .. <--- that's carnival for you.

Minerva is right.

I know LOADS of guys who've dressed up as women in Carnival for a laugh. I don't know one of them that's gay.

Gay doesn't mean you cross-dress and cross-dressing doesn't mean you are gay.

It means you either are comfortable in that wear (could be gay/closet gay) or you have a wicked sense of humour and are comfortable enough with your own Hetero sexuality to dress up as a woman for a laugh and not feel any less of a man .. <--- that's carnival for you.

Yes, it's CARNIVAL, dear, as you point out! :p

People dress up in all kinds of wild ways and do all kinds of crazy things, just because they are wild and crazy.

I wouldn't assume that someone dressed as woman in carnival thought that he was a woman or acted like a woman outside of carnival anymore than I would assume that one who dressed like a Turkish Janissary or a Crusader or a devil thought he was one of those.

Why drag (pardon the word!) in all these irrelevancies?

The cross dressers in Dubai weren't in Carnival.

(Oh, these modern Enlightened people, Gawd helpus! :no: )

ROFL @ preserving social values

ROFL @ Spirit ROFL @ preserving social values !

When it comes to Dubai, it begs the question...

What social values ?

Oh, gee.

Things can always get worse.

Whatever you have, you can lose it, even if it's not much.

Three cheers for hypocrisy. It's infinitely superior to shamelessness.

Sometimes I just feel really sorry for Dubians who've undergone all this change in such a short time. Some are really closing in on themselves, trying hard to preserve what's left.

For these people, something simple like a One-Week campaign to 'preserve social values' is like a gift from God.

In Oman, Al Hamdulillah, we haven't changed much. So we can't really understad the conflict these people are facing. Country is modernizing itself against their will, bringing in all sorts of things, acts and clothings they didn't even imagine existed only a few decades ago.

Sometimes I just feel really sorry for Dubians who've undergone all this change in such a short time. Some are really closing in on themselves, trying hard to preserve what's left.

For these people, something simple like a One-Week campaign to 'preserve social values' is like a gift from God.

In Oman, Al Hamdulillah, we haven't changed much. So we can't really understad the conflict these people are facing. Country is modernizing itself against their will, bringing in all sorts of things, acts and clothings they didn't even imagine existed only a few decades ago.

Yes, haven't changed much in many ways. And that's good.

But still maybe changed more than you think. What would your great grandmother have thought about preteens publicly discussing bestiality with their elders? I imagine it would have been incomprehensible even as a possibility.

I imagine it would have been incomprehensible even as a possibility.


So true.

Seems we're moving that direction too. Slowly, but still getting worse by the year.

So true.

Seems we're moving that direction too. Slowly, but still getting worse by the year.

May God help us all. Ameen.