Gay Qatar Airways Manager Jailed After Grindr Sting Operation

You’re still partially trying to justify his arrest, surely as Qatar police or Qatar Airways would do. Your comment about gay and drugs is so unreal.

"oneworld"

@ Tom -- I'm not at all trying to justify his arrest? I think it's pretty clear what my perspective is, and I'm doing my best to provide a balanced take.

It's absolutely possible (and probably even likely) that the police planted drugs on him. However, one has to leave open the possibility that there might be more to that:
-- If I were caught with drugs in Qatar, I'd probably also claim they were planted, because I wouldn't want to spend the rest of my life in jail there
-- If the police's MO in Qatar was to plant drugs on gays in order to be able to arrest them for their sexuality, you'd think you'd hear more of those stories, no?

Agreed not all facts are known. That being said these countries are very behind the curve and anyone that takes a job there needs to be mindful. Responding to a Grinder post? Probably not a good idea in the Middle East. Grinder is not a "social app" (even if it's owners claim so).

Was it really worth leaving Lufthansa or British Airways if he did so voluntarily from either place?

This article is riddled with homophobia please rethink it. What is the point of playing both sides when one side is an undemocratic homophobic regime. I literally think less of you and this site for this homophobic article.

I've been a big fan of your blog since the beginning, but you sure make it sound that hooking up in Grindr involves drugs:
"since he was baited on Grindr, is it possible that he actually brought the drugs with him?"
Tom is right, it sounds tone deaf and a almost what you see from alarmist homophobic publications.

Will a review of some new Qsuites route follow this post? J/k, I know it isn't, since you've basically reviewed every middle eastern premium product.

When will you stop promoting and giving business to countries that have the absolute worst record on the planet when it comes to women's and gay's rights? I don't fly to China because I don't want to support them, I don't fly through the ME either. What will have to happen for you to grow some conviction?

Stories like this gross me out, no matter how good the damn airline is. I understand that countries like Qatar have their own culture and attitudes towards things like homosexuality and that's their right, but If you want to participate in the "world community" or to be looked at as a major travel hub or destination there are certain baseline levels of respect for human rights you should have to adhere to. For example, not arbitrarily terrorizing the workforce you're desperately trying to import to help you achieve that hub/destination status.

I also think it's worth noting that Qatar in particular seems to have this attitude even above and beyond the rest of the Gulf countries. Even as a visibly gay man visiting the UAE I felt welcome so long as I didn't engage in PDA or anything excessive like that. Even during my layover in Qatar it felt like transiting through a police state. Speaking with local gay friends living in Dubai, the UAE, and Oman they all said that Qatar is worse than even Saudi in this respect. Hard pass from me.

I had to read the article again to see the "riddled with homophobia" claims. You quite honestly sound like you are just looking for a reason to be offended. Try harder

100% this.

@ Expresswayvisual -- Thanks for reading, and I'm sorry, I can see how it came across that way (and it certainly doesn't represent how I feel). I rephrased the post a bit to hopefully make that part clearer.

My point wasn't to suggest that people hooking up through Grindr necessarily do drugs, but rather my emphasis was intended to be on the "baiting" part. I could see police trying to bait people into bringing drugs to a certain location where they're meeting, so they have something they can easily arrest them for. I'm not saying that happened here, but I can see how that could happen in general.

@ Tim Dunn -- For better or worse, a large part of the appeal of the Gulf carriers is that people can typically get major promotions and pay increases by moving there. But yeah, I share your question...

I always wonder why the aviation community loves Qatar airways so much. It’s a despotic country that treats people horribly. How about queers for Palestine and Qatar Airways.
There is further questions although these countries are not nearly as bad we relish the products of Singapore Airlines and Emirates for example but they have no human rights for their country or their staff. We want social justice but we allow and endorse other countries terrible treatment of others.

@ Mantis -- Fair point, and perhaps it's a topic that's worth addressing more broadly in a post. But let me share a few thoughts here.

First of all, I'd hardly say that a country like the UAE (since you're talking about Middle Eastern carriers more broadly) has among the worst records on the planet when it comes to gay rights. There are a countless number of other countries with worse records. How often are gay people arrested in the UAE simply for living their lives? Compare that to what has been going on in countries like Tanzania and Uganda, for example.

And speaking of that, I think that's an area where we're maybe not giving some Gulf countries enough credit. A vast majority of people living in the UAE are ex-pats, and most of them are coming from countries with fewer economic opportunities.

For example, wouldn't you think that a gay Tanzanian moving to the UAE would have more ability to live their life freely in the UAE than back at home?

If we're going to view Gulf countries purely through an American or Western European lens, then you're absolutely right, they're way behind the times, as we'd view it. But a majority of the world's population doesn't live in those countries...

I read this headline thinking Qatar Airlines had something to do with his arrest. Misleading headline.

You do know that Ben is gay, right?

@Ben--I have to ask about your use of question marks. I've noticed some puzzling ones over the years. For instance, there's this line above: "I'm not at all trying to justify his arrest?" And in an earlier post, you wrote, "I’m honestly confused by his confusion?" Is this an American thing or just a quirk? I'm genuinely unsure.

The story of true is abhorrent and the government should do everything they can to release him

That said, going on Grindr in any country like that is beyond stupid.

On the contrary, transiting DOH has never been an issue so am unsure why you allude to saying it felt like a police state. Passengers and staff from all over the world. Some employees were very flirty however I know to be careful.

Way too much victim blaming in this article. I think it is good to point out we only have one side of the story, and cannot prove the family member's assertions. But the bullet point part is just irresponsible. The comment section for an article like this was bound to go off the rails, but you just helped the process by starting the gross speculation.

I didn’t read it that way ?? Try reading it again as you lack comprehension skills.

@ Malc -- You're better at grammar than I am. It's certainly not technically correct writing, but it's intended to be more informal or conversational.

In the sentence you highlight above where I responded to someone by saying the following:
"I'm not at all trying to justify his arrest?"

I guess I'm writing in the same way I would speak it, which is a questioning tone to what was said, since I disagree with the conclusion, but am open to learning from and accepting how others feel.

Maybe it only makes sense in my head, and I'll be more cognizant with my use of question marks.

The ME countries are spending an inordinate amount of money modernizing their image with best-in-class airlines, skyscrapers, luxury resorts, and shopping centers. However, when all of the hype is peeled away, they remain the same - intolerant, hypocritical, and unable to adapt to the world they so desperately want to be a part of. All that glitters is not gold.

UAE might not openly enforce such laws, but they are on the books if they ever want to enforce them. You have no rights there, you are at their mercy. Qatar is obviously more aggressive in their enforcement. So let's not give the entire ME a pass just because some countries like the UAE don't aggressively enforce the ideals that their government and majority of citizens actually believe, solely because at the moment it is in their best interests not to.

As far as the Tanzanian example: you are not a poor gay Tanzanian escaping oppression to somewhere slightly less oppressive with more economic opportunity, and neither are the vast majority of gay people that choose to either work in oppressive ME countries or choose to give their money to their state controlled airlines. That's a non-sequitur. They might not have a choice, you do.

I think this is just due to their religion, period. There is nothing more or less.
If you don't really understand their religion, you probably don't understand why that happened.
Probably it's a good idea to keep your profile very low if you are that kind of sexual orientation against their religion when you visit the country, or just don't go...

They can do whatever they want because they know they can just get the gay travel bloggers to fly their airlines and talk about how they are the best in the world.

This goes to show the corruption of some Middle Eastern countries and the threats they pose to the rest of the world. Qatar and other nearby nations aren't free countries, and people should know that and understand the risk before going.

QR has one of the top 3 Business Class hard and soft product, it's a fact.

The State of Qatar is yet playing a very ambiguous game: massively lobbying major Out Gay Av-Geeks western influencers ; while sometimes jailing or intimidating gay people there.

It's the same ambiguity which consists of funding Hamas and hosting its leaders on its sole ; while making itself vital for the Israeli hostages release, as well as for the US-Taliban negociations.

A fundamentaly pernicious State with an immense Soft Power. Why couldn't they easily corrupt gay prominent AvGeek influencers to buy their silence with free/huge discounted J tickets when they officially corrupted -with crystal clear evidences- many UE parliament members?

As a French proud gay, I'll definitely think twice before buying again a QR ticket.

There is a critical moment when one should value its core values with the Q-Suite appeal.

Looks like a case of literal FAFO.
But guys, it's ok; Qsuites is the best J product in the sky.

Terrible story, but one thing strikes me as odd. As Ben mentioned you can't get a work visa in Qatar if you are HIV posiive. But work visas need to be renewed after three years at the latest, and then another medical exam is required. This means his last medical must be from 2023.

Time to boycott Qatar, right Lucky?

Eh, many other religions aren't doing so well with the gays either (see Christians in the US).

So let's review. A gay man working in a country were homosexual acts are punishable by jail time or maybe even death, went on a gay sex app for a night time meeting and got arrested.

The idea that one shouldn’t travel through Qatar for moralistic reasons is beyond ridiculous. Where would it end? Should we not travel in areas that have the death penalty? What about abortion? Press freedom? If you wish to think like that you will have to just stay home.

Wow, Lucky, that is some rationalizing just to keep flying in Emirates first class and living it up in luxurious suites at hotels in the UAE.

The endless pursuit of monetary gain, material pleasures (think endless fawning over Qsuites) or both makes Westerners compromise core principles of democracies and human rights. Qatar is an active collaborator in global terror, financing and hosting Hamas and its billionaire leaders, and playing dirty games with Iran. The UAE is not Qatar.

Time to wake up or own it.

Your comment about gay and drugs is so unreal.

Exactly what part of it is "unreal?"

Illicit drug use is so high in gay hookups and orgies, that the HIV Neurobehavioral Research Center Group did a study on it, published by the NIH and entered into the National Library of Medicine; which concluded that more than half of all-male 1night stands, orgies, and non-relationship encounters involving penetration, involve stimulants or depressants, excluding alcohol and OTC-available products.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11547613/

This isn't to cast judgment on them, it's just to say that your faux outrage is completely misplaced and nonfactual.

Gay males (in the USA at least) engaging in no-strings hookups, do so with drugs more often than they don't. Fact.

And most important to this context: nowhere did anyone here say all men do it, he simply said it was possible. Which is also true.

Not really a travel related story.

I love QATAR airways products! I don't know the truth of this case. I am a proud hetrosexual and I can’t imagine homosexual lifestyle. it’s very disgusting but I wish no harm what soever for homosexuals.

if you know being gay is not tolerated in Qatar, why work in Qatar? 97% of the world population are NOT homosexuals.

Don't worry. If your face is anything like your attitude, you won't ever have to fear the gays bothering you about anything....

Have to commend you for bringing this to light. A lot of people would not want to annoy the Qatari Airways gods.

And this is so disgusting. I wish people boycott this airline.

Ben, I think the selling of OMANs A330 would be a better post. Must be a slow day in Miami.

Isn't "misleading" at all. You just have sh!t reading comprehension.

Nowhere does it say nor imply that QR had anything to do with his arrest.

Then maybe you should start your own blog, instead of trying to control what other people do.

Based on the responses, plenty of people find this post fascinating, for various reasons.

What does Qatar Airways have to do with what police did to one of their employees on his own time?

@ cbchicago -- Not a slow news day at all, just a story that I think is worth covering. What did I miss with Oman Air's A330s being sold? A while back I covered that the airline will stop flying its A330s as of March, though is there an update that I missed?

@ Mantis -- I'm curious, where do you draw the line as to what airlines you'll fly, and what countries you'll visit?

Many gay people go to or transfer in DOH. This is quite important news.

my answer is simple. STOP GIVING THESE PEOPLE YOUR MONEY. Let them rot in their sandcastles when they run out of oil.

This is a ridiculous comparison. No one is jailed for being gay in the USA.

For those confused by the "bullet point part," the post has been updated, removing the section I objected to. I think the updated version removes the parts I originally called victim blaming. Thanks Ben.

I've been a regular traveller on QR for the last 10 years. The first time I took the DOH-SIN flight in the then brand new Q-Suites was a revelation. However after my last trip "down under" in January, I have decided enough is enough, and won't be flying with Qatar in the future. No big single reason, just a fair number of small reasons which, when added together, made me question my former loyalty to them. There are lots of great alternatives on most routes. They may not offer the Q-Suite but they will give greater peace of mind. So fcuk 'em.

@Mantis,

So then do you boycott the US carriers, for being from a country that utilizes c@pital pun!shment... and if not, then why?

Is it possible that this guy brought drugs to the Grindr meeting? Still, unless you're flying to an African country with little air connectivity except to Doha and Dubai, fly Western European airlines or Singapore Airlines.

When I flew from the United States to India, I chose Singapore Airlines along with a short rest in Singapore for jet lag.

Qatar is based for not tolerating the 2 main attack vectors of HIV and thereby protecting its population+visitors:
1 Tough stance against injectable drugs.
2 Tough stance against high-risk sexual practices that are not even serving any reproductive function.

Manveer, please let us know of all the challenges you have had to overcome being hetreosexual that has made you so "proud". I'm interested to hear of the discrimination and bullying you've received from friends, family and workplaces because of your "very disgusting" sexuality which you have no power to change. And of the anti-heterosexual laws you've campaigned against.

1. You know modern drugs mean HIV is essentially untransmittable yes? If you want to "protect" your country from HIV allowing access to those drugs is far more effective then doing random dating app stings.
3. HIV infections are down 60pc from their peak - that drop has NOT been achieved by prosecuting gay men
2. The majority of HIV infections globally are among heterosexuals, so take your dog whistle "not even serving any reproductive function" homophobia back to the 1980s where it belongs.

I mean it's Qatar.
I am baffled by the amount of people that still stay there knowing how oppressive and deceitful the country is.
World Cup 2022 comes to mind. A country I will not visit, nor an airline I would fly.

I believe that the reason for Qatar's HIV negative requirement for visas is to protect its population from transmission of the disease. Due to the culture, HIV was not (and still isn't) a prominent disease in the population of Qatar going back to when oil was discovered. In order to maintain that, they have the HIV negative requirement.

Also, contrary to popular belief, there are a number of homosexuals in the Middle East. This is partially due to the segregation of genders in society (to prevent inproper relations between them). However, one consequence of that is that males begin doing things with one another. I wouldn't necessarily call these people "gay" (it's not that they are only attracted to their own gender, rather its just them getting what they can). Medical professionals in the region are aware of this. As a result, the governments policy of an HIV negative test for foreign workers helps ensure the disease does not spread within its population. If it were to spread, the people who get the disease will not be treated well by family members or society. As a result, I personally completely support the negative HIV requirement for foreign workers.

Keep in mind that it is their country, and theoretically they are able to set whatever rules they wish for foreigners wishing to earn money on their lands. We may not agree with all of them, but this is their country.

Then why do thirteen states still have sodomy laws on the books in case the Supreme Court overturns Lawrence v Texas? Given a chance, the fundies would love to jail us gays again in the US.

Figured this post would show how toxic your commenters are, Ben.

Know it's an open forum but maybe take some time to think about why you keep attracting people like this.

A "number of homosexuals in the Middle East"? A number? There are as many gay people in the middle east as anywhere else, but laws in certain countries mean it's very much under the radar. Look at countries like Lebanon - a rich source of gay men LOL!

Now, as you say Qatar is a sovereign country. But a better way to stop the spread of HIV is with drugs like PrEP which basically mean HIV is untransmittable. Rather than, I dunno, gay dating app stings.

I totally agree with Yan's comment. You need to have a proper understanding of the religion in order to understand why these laws exist or why they are enforced in the way that they are. If you do not have that understanding, you will have a very different perspective, and you would see these events as very provoking and unjust (which is a point of view I can understand living in the U.S.). However, I would advise that if you are of that sexual orientation, keep a low profile and be aware of the laws of each country you go to.

Keep in mind that every country has the right to make and enforce laws. Qatar's laws are heavily influenced by religion, and Homosexuality is not allowed in Islam. And the region has strict punishments for breaking laws to deter people from breaking them, which does work. People who have been to Saudi Arabia and the U.A.E. can tell you how safe the country is. You can literally leave your car unlocked and the keys inside and go into a store and no one will steal it.

The topic of boycotts has been covered on this blog. Commenters write how shocked! shocekd! they are that Ben is openly gay, but doesn't trash QR and actually flies them. Ben has explained himself to death about this. I'm openly gay and I endorse Ben's view and his position. The argument is: the world progresses more if people talk to their adversaries, than if they punish them. many take the opposing view and before you explain why the punitive response is better, relax, we already know all the arguments. We haven't failed to understand them, we understand them and respectfully disagree. there are two schools of thought on the issue. One option is to write your own blog, work hard over decades to compete with Ben's, achieve equivalent readership and argue the opposing view.

yeah like many in tha country, without incident. My Saudi friend explained to me "Grindr® works perfectly well in Jeddah". Next you'll be advising gay people not to have sex "just to be on the safe side".

One day Ben is going to jailed by one of these countries (Qatar/UAE/Saudi) for simply being gay or jewish. Hell cry for the US consulate to intervene. Until then he will continue to advertise for these airlines

I don't know your citizenship, but for almost any, there's a glib retort. We're all aware of the ills of Qatar, including their abuse of gays and women, cheap/slave labour for the World Cup, mistreatment by QR of foreign staff, especially the gays. It would not be at all difficult to assemble heartwrenching stories of injustice at the hands of officials on the payroll of the Governments of Canada, USA, UK, France, Germany, etc. The argument in favour of boycotting, cutting all ties with a country, not flying their flag carrier etc., is tempting and it offers moral satisfaction to the boycotter. But there is a reasonable argument for reacting differently to these stories. Ben has defended his non-boycott approach to such matters many times and perfectly cogently. You'll find the content in the archive. He's made it clear that he understands and respects the contrary view, as do I, though I respectfully disagree. I'm openly gay and I would fly QSuites if it was available for my route.

Entirely a relevant story for the readership of this blog. In fact, I can't even imagine how you conclude that.

this comment is not cool. REPORT function doesn't work. REMOVE

Nonsense.

"There are no homosexuals. There are homosexual acts, which are perfectly natural. If they weren't, it wouldn't be possible to perform them." - Gore Vidal

Ask their publicist.

This is the most informative comment. This one incident isn't big enough to influence most. The instant-boycott crowd was already boycotting all ME carriers and the rest were mildly uneasy with the moral stature of Qatar and its flag carrier. But for some, this was one of many straws piled on the camel's back. This is why Ben's advice to QR is on the money.

Qatar is spending fortunes on marketing and enjoys a reputation which is totally different than the reality. A good friend of mine was arrested and deported after 10 years living in Qatar. He had an apartment which he owned and a car and a filled bank account. He lost it all after being arrested on immoral activities at 2 am in his apartment. He was not hiding being gay and felt secure after 10 years, but all ended in one night. He was arrested, interrogated and beaten and tortured for 3 weeks before being send home to a third country as his home country was no longer in diplomatic relations with Qatar. The country is using pretexts like the sexual orientation to get rid of people they don’t like. It’s a police state.

There is always more to the story! Do some research and see how many people try to bring Drugs to Middle Eastern Countries. Mostly Pakistanis, Nigerians, and other African countries. Countries in the ME (including Indonesia, Singapore,Malaysia,etc) have very strict Laws when it comes to Drugs. Death is a common punishment.
Quite possible there were Drugs involved. No one goes out looking for Gays to prosecute. This Drug Deal Gone Bad becomes story if you involve the words "GAYS" and "Grinder".
Qatar is a Beautiful Place to visit. NO CRIME! you can go out in the middle of the Night, walk around Doha at Night, no one is going to Bother you. Try that in Gay Mecca of USA aka San Francisco or Oakland.

Max: do it for pleasure, not to conceive. That's nearly everyone's policy worldwide, so therefore it's government policy nearly everywhere. If you think it's immoral to engage in pleasurable sexual behaviour that doesn't reproduce offspring, you need to live in a closed religious community. You're surrounded by women on the pill, men with vasectomies, naturally infertile people, men having sex with men...

Arresting and beating innocents is a crime in Qatar. Planting drugs is a crime in Qatar. Refusing consular services is a crime in Qatar. Having a party is not a crime. Note that in this story on this blog, there is no allegation of any unlawful sexual acts. Perhaps you've read such allegations elsewhere, which would make an excellent rebuttal to my points. As far as I can tell, the only allegation of criminal conduct is possession of meth. In the circumstances, the claim that the cops planted it is enough for reasonalbe doubt in my mind. Perhaps you disagree and find the claim of police brutality and criminality unbelievable. I find it plausible.

People confuse what should be fair and right to what is reality in other parts of the world. Using an app like Grinder in a place Qatar is dangerous. In fact, using an app to hook up for sex (and not just gay sex) has an element of risk. The big difference in that in the US, most of Europe and Australia a report of a crime against a gay man would get due attention, not so in other countries. Gay men do not go on Grinder to find friends, they go on Grinder for sex hook ups.

Don't forget that the state of Qatar is a major shareholder in IAG. I hope the LGBTQI+ readers of the blog enjoy their flights on BA and Iberia!

Ironic Qatar is so strict on homosexuality when Qatari men are some of the most frequent customers of rent boys in London, surprising when you consider how small Qatar is population wise.

Not ridiculous at all. Religions are anti-gay. And notice that in the QR case, the guy wasn't jailed for "being gay", he was jailed for meth possession, which he claims is trumped-up. Could the same thing happen in Alabama, to an effeminate UA flight attendant on a layover in Mobile?

Shocking. I suppose they indcluded alcohol and poppers in this list, to "sex it up". (See what I did there?)

Ben should really stop flying these airlines, and promoting their products, and taking their advertising dollars.

He's not "engaging in dialogue" between a gay person and a Middle Eastern government. He's not changing any hearts or minds. Ben is not a political or cultural leader, nor does he run in those circles. He's sitting on an airplane, eating their food, and giving them thousands of dollars for the privilege. He's enriching their regime and rationalizing their treatment of his own kind.

As a gay Westerner, some things are more important to me than luxury or revenue from ad clicks.

true the christian govt officials here don't imprison queer folks, they just villainized them until they're beaten to death by other christians even if they're kids

1 only works if these drugs are reliably taken, which often is not the case/people are being dependent on their positive counter part taking it.
2 False, apart from drug needle sharing, it's mostly the LGBTQP+-crowd thats disproportionally positive. The worst being covert bisexuals who do transmit it into heterosexual groups.

I ask this respectfully to all of the bloggers who gush over Qatar Airways and Doha, Will you continue to fly them and review their hotels in light of your disgust over actions like these?

I’m asking asking for a friend.

The sad reality is that the screams of injustice and indignation will be forgotten in a week or two when QR J offers a huge release of space from the U.S. Suddenly, Q Suites is the best business class in the world.

Watch Jon Stewart “explain” this on his “Russia” episode regarding their amazing subway stations. Tyranny and fascism can get you some pretty nice subway stations…(and airlines).

Doesn't everyone who gets arrested claim the drugs were planted? This story is shocking and appalling, if true. It is true Qatar has a brutal negative track record with the LGBQT+ community. However, it does not mean the story is true.

I would like more independent reporting to confirm the many accusations and, if true, share in the outrage.

British Airways, Iberia, Vueling, Aer Lingus, LEVEL, IAG Loyalty and IAG Cargo - IAG

Biggest shareholder of IAG... QATAR AIRWAYS... So if you don't want to fly Qatar because of this story (assuming it is true), I get it. But if you don't want to be a hypocrite, you can't fly British Airways, Iberia, Vueling, Aer Lingus as well.

Given that Qatar Airways has a pretty good reputation as far as its planes and service go, and competitive pricing, and since I fly primarily One World I would normally opt for Qatar when flying from LA to the Middle East and Africa; however, after hearing stories like this one, I will avoid Qatar like the plague and stick with British Airways and other carriers.

Bottom line is that we have a choice every time we book a flight and airline, and why would I want to support an airline and country that so viciously discriminate against and entrap its very own seasoned employees and residents? No thank you.

Qatar - Hopefully you'll wake up and take much better care of your own. Until you do so, I'm not stepping onto one of your planes.

Just be careful in your travels through these countries

Or..... you could just read what was expressly written in the post, and see that they didn't.

Yeah, talking to adversaries has CLEARLY helped Qatar change it's views and policies...this case being a good example of it lol

On the other hand, BA and Iberia are not guilty of the same conduct or repression as Qatar. Yes, they may own a big stake of IAG, but the airlines themselves better respect the rights of their passengers and staff and the countries that host them would not allow these forms of disgusting discrimination.

@Eric given all the anti-queer legislation being offered and promoted in the US, give it sometime before being gay is something you can be jailed for...

You have weird (but oddly-detailed) fantasies.

I respect your saying this. And many others will also. But the reality is there are millions right behind you that don’t care and will see Q Suites for a low redemption to Maldives and scream, “Yay!” Indignation these days lasts about 20 minutes.

just to stir the pot a little further, why is it that there is such a reverence for East Asian airlines for whom a middle aged woman will never survive as a flight attendant for most of them?

If human rights in employment practices matter, then the issue is hardly just LBG.... It is about providing an opportunity for people to fully development themselves and leave when they are ready.

As a Gay man myself..... I am inclined to agree with you. While I applaud Ben visiting countries I would NEVER consider... I would remind my LGBTQ younger generation that MY generation changed a corporate landscape by boycotting Coors Beer and Florida Orange Juice...

You mention Tanzania and Uganda, what about Russia? And I don't get the fuss about q suites. Cramped and claustrophobic in my view and ground service is poor with water.

Own shares in IAG is different than managing and controling the airline group.

I have an upcoming award business class flight to Doha and feel disgusted to go on the trip.

He might not have concealed that he is HIV positive. With good medication, the virus is not always detectable. If he used to bring in his medication from overseas and decided to lie in the medical exam, the locally taken blood test would most likely not have revealed his HIV positivity to Qatari authorities.

If someone is in trouble in Qatar, the UAE, Saudi they would seek help from the embassy. Consulates are normally diplomatic outposts in secondary cities. Embassies are in the capitals. Ben reviews all airlines, even some of the most obscure. If he were so concerned with advertising dollars he would not be brining this to the attention of his readership.

It might be worth noting that this is the second such case within a few weeks. There’s variation in terms of the trumped up charges, but similar degrees of abuse. https://inews.co.uk/news/i-was-deported-for-wearing-tinted-moisturiser-qatars-new-lgbt-crackdown-2759088

That’s a sweeping statement on Singapore… “no human rights”! Have you lived there or have you read a few articles and applied them to every aspect of life? It may have some practices you disagree with but to say there are “no human rights” is ridiculous. I urge you to adopt a more critical mind when reading stuff online.

I just posted a link to a story very similar to this that occurred in Qatar just a few weeks ago. Gay flight attendant, drummed up charges, no procedural justice, abuse by security forces, deportation. Guess you can’t post links here, because the post disappeared. Take my word for it, it happened, was reported in the global news media.

I had 2 Transit on Doha...ONLY
But its bad hearing that.......

The power if money!!

You really ought not to end there kinds of stories with The Bottom Line. As they say - FAFO. He knew the rules and chose to endorse them with his presence in that situation ...

Not winning on this terrible spam filter. I tried to post a link to a similar story to the one Ben wrote about that occurred just a few weeks back. Gay Qatar flight attendant, trumped up charges, abuse by security forces, absence of procedural justice, but the post got deleted, so, take my word for it, virtually the same thing happened in November to another man. This is far from an isolated incident.

Couldn’t agree more.

@BradStPete, it takes people on the inside and outside. As part of that same group, maybe a couple years younger as I was a pre-teen for Anita's BS... Having visible LGBTQ people on the inside of corporations was as important as the boycotts and protests. I'm not suggesting that people should go do what this guy did -- be on Grindr in Doha -- but things don't change if they don't SEE us and call us friends and family.

@W, it's impossible to get a residency permit in any Middle Eastern country with any chronic disease. It's not about protecting the community, it's about keeping healthcare costs down.

@Max, you have no clue what you're talking about.

@W, you should have stopped at the end of your 1st paragraph. But the 2nd paragraph ???

Please re-examine your post and think about the difference between 'religion' and 'morality'.

Fitting up some unsuspecting individual for a 'crime' - is neither 'religiously' or morally defensible.

Yet, here you are defending a 'religion' (yeah, I can accept your right / belief there) and then you try to 'use' that religion to equate / defend laws, using a marshmallow link.

The blatant lack of 'morality' to enforce religiously inspired laws speaks not of a 'religious' belief, but only of a corrupt or self-serving community. That is a *very^ wide gap to jump ....

Are you really equating active human rights violations to mildly sexist business practices?

If so, then you need to come at the whole of the corporate world because they all engage in active sexism/lookism based on people's appearance. Obese people are less likely to get hired by their thinner counterparts with equal qualifications. Somethings are just realities in life. I didn't take you to be one of those lib-cucked SJWs that cry about every small "microaggression" they face.

Yes, they will. In about a year from now Ben, who himself is part of the LGBT community, will post his trip review in QSuites and talk about how great the food and service is, without any mention of these human rights violations. Completely hypocritical and disgusting.

Certainly an awful situation but he knew this going into it and decided to move to there anyway. I think there is more to the story that is missing. Generally speaking police don't just perform such an operation without some cause or reason. Consider how many other people use those types of apps and it is not like you hear about people getting cornered like he did on a routine basis.

That strategy only works if all the Qataris are kept at home too! You're not really making a great flex with this "explanation."

Both sides here are wrong.

Anyone who expects countries in the area to behave rationally wrt LGBT+ issues is naive. Qatari authorities demonstrated this during the the world cup when they freaked out over people wearing *gasp* rainbows on their clothing!

The Qatari authorities are wrong for. obvious reasons. LGBT* people have always existed, and this animosity is ridiculous.

And Ben is bonkers for even reviewing products and services in this area. He explains how he's a respectable gay but that won't really protect him.

He lives in a state that outlawed sex between the same sex. A rational person would know not to go on sites for a one night stand.
The thing that disturbs me the most is that he is HIV positive and thus is risking two things spreading his strain to others, while risking getting infected by another strain. For him to continue to have sex knowing he's infected is wrong. Sorry you have a disease and its your responsibility to prevent the spread.

Ever heard of condoms, mate? There is so much that is wrong with your entire post, I didn't know where to start. Get informed and think first before you post garbage like this.

if you are HIV positive you should not, Except if you are in a committed relationship

What's disgusting, Manveer, is that you actually typed this out, thought about it, and hit "Post". Do you enjoy judging others and spreading hate? You should be ashamed.

Very strange story. I don’t think we’ve heard the whole story. I’ll pass on Qatar. Unless there is a fire sale on AA PHL DOH RT for $700. Egypt seems more promising. They have invested in their infrastructure and tourism.

Don’t get too disturbed, that might have been true 10+ yrs ago for sure but times change. Once on the current antiretrovirals HIV positive people are at virtually zero ability to spread the virus….been that way for a few years now

Mark,

BA is owned by IAG which in turn the largest shareholder at 25% is Qatar….. So now if you are serious in your convictions no IAG airlines for you!

@Ben--That makes sense. Thanks for explaining.

I think we need to respect their Middle Easternness. It is a woke form of western imperialism to make these Eastern religious lands accept the modern western and liberal ways.

I can't give too much details since this kind of things are supposed to remain private and I'm definitely not proud of the situation, which should have more suited to Reddit than OMAAT.
It seems extremely obvious but don't engage in (gay) sex in a QR Lounge. I was guiltily tipsy due to some Veuve Clicquot Millésimé Champagne glasses. Had some soft fun with a QR handsome employee after some eye contacts in what he said is a remote area without cameras. I was so worried about the hypothetical cameras issues, but he insisted saying he perfectly knew the Lounge. Both consenting of course.
I wrongly felt at that moment that nothing could happen to me since I was a French Full fare First Class Pax.
After that, this employee disappeared from the Lounge whereas he was supposed to end his shift a few hours later.
The other employees I was talking to -- who were so friendly and lovely dramatically change their tone all of a sudden, which made me understood
some of them knew or hinted to some extent what happened. They remain very professional yet very cold.
Luckily, I had my flight to Paris without any issue, but I couldn't see anymore this employee and hope he was not fired or deported. I better realize now I was definitely unconscious.

As an HIV+ reader of this blog, I regret to have read the ignorant comments here. It is sad, hurtful, and shows how much more work there is to educate the public.

Yea I don't know we can assume that he is taking medications like that. Being that he would likely hide his HIV status I can't imagine he is routinely going through customs with those types of meds or filling them in Qatar.

Not uncommon for gay people in Qatar to have issues especially if people are transgender. Weird though you don't hear about police planting drugs on all those other people. Somehow it seems like there is more to the story especially when it comes to the drugs. In addition, this guy chose to live there. I don't feel a whole lot of sympathy if he is running around Qatar pursuing this lifestyle. Their laws and cultural/religious beliefs are very well known. He should have lived somewhere else if he wanted to engage in this conduct. Play stupid games win stupid prizes.

This is so awful 🙁

It’s actually addressed in the article….he was on medication (which are the antiretrovirals which bring viral load to undetectable and untransmissable) and is being denied them.

I’ll be interested to see if this results in Ben praising Qatar Airways less. At the moment, his reviews of the carrier (which is owned by Qatar’s tyrannical, bigoted government) are glowing, and make virtually no mention of said government’s inhumanity.

Also, those of you spouting the old “their country, their rules” hogwash disgust me. I hope I never get so callous as to predicate my empathy for someone on whether they happen to have been born in a free country.

You're very ill-informed, the HIV medication makes it impossible to spread the virus as it's indetectable + there are also condoms of course. And HIV- gay men who don't use condoms these days take prep, which is highly efficient to prevent any infection anyway. Have you opened a newspaper since 1990?

First, I hope the guy has got the urgent help he needed from the British or Mexican Embassy etc. Second, hopefully they let them take his medicines. Third, again lessons to be learned. There are places where your sexual orientation is publicly tabu. You should inform yourself if it is worth the risk of imprisonment for the sake of traveling there etc.
I would not generally tell somebody how to live their liives. Some places in this world still have prejudices against all kinds of gays and profoundly believe that gays cause illness and immorality. Nobody wants to live in a society, country etc. in which you have a target on your back.
Sadly to say, always be vigilant and sensible in your ways when travelling abroad. When travelling in their country, their rules apply! Just ask yourself if you really need to travel in such areas where your personality/-yourself is not wanted. There other choices..always!

Now let's book ourselves a QR flight because they have a better champagne on board. #hypocrites

@Lucky, are you still OK w flying Qatar? Maybe update your previous post?

https://onemileatatime.com/ethics-flying-qatar-airways/

They are hypocrites. As soon as they visit Europe, partying, drug taking, and escorts. I knew someone who worked at the Dorchester Hotel in London and had some many stories about what went on in the suites to the extent that once the guests left, the rooms had to be refurbished. And so much paraphernalia found under the mattresses.

Then as soon as they get back home, it’s business as usual condemning the immorality of the western lifestyle and family values.

I know lots of people who are called oops because daddy believed in condoms.

Think your knowledge of HIV, how its spread and how its treated stalled out in th 90s and as few others have pointed out do some research before posting shite like this and not making yourself look like a bigger fool than you just have.

Not sure I buy the drug planted card being played to entrap him, but the GCC countries -- including the UAE -- have an awful history of playing dirty games to entrap and to try to coerce confessions of guilt and to try to grab and punish others by doing so.

Be careful about what kind of online presence you have. Even otherwise, just your photo -- and it doesn't even have to be a photo of you -- being out there online or with various commercial and government databases accessible to government actors can make it more likely you are at risk of problems from questionable actors. Those questionable actors being those who may hate you for you being you or your way of conducting yourself; those who may hate you for whom or what you love; those who may despise you for your principles and way of defending them.

These countries have their rounds of "morality policing". Add in concerns about illicit drugs being used or spread by online dating app users to encourage other activity that the authorities find objectionable, and unfortunately there is a risk from participating in activities in such areas even when there was no such risk from participating in some such activities elsewhere.

After seeing what has gone on in the US with the de facto support for Trump in so many corners, I am not sure the Gulf Arabs are hypocrites anymore than anyone else. Sure, I too may find it very questionable that you get Arab royals who defend or say silent about "morality policing" closer to home for them and then go need a bunch of STD tests and treatment when they are in the US and Europe since they got hit by those or other problems perhaps due to illegal drug use on top of who knows what else.

The Gulf Arabs are part of "go along to get along" crowd when in their own backyard and then play elsewhere, perhaps because they know the risks are not the same when abroad as when closer to home. But this isn't unusual. A lot of vacationers -- more so men than women, but increasingly both -- from the US tend to partake in riskier behavior while on vacation a flight or two away from home than while in their own neighborhood. The risk behavior profile of people is sort of contingent upon where they are and under what conditions they are where they are, so what you note is sort of the typical "humans being humans".

..pyjamas and amenity kit..and a great suite..blah blah...yup that is hypocrite indeed!

It won't be because of being Jewish. It's unlikely even for just being gay. For engaging in homosexual activities in the place or seeking them while in the place, that is where the risk is. Technically, the risk is also there for unmarried people engaging in or seeking sexual activities with others while in the place.

What I found interesting is that there are some places where the AirBnb hosts even indicate that couples are not welcome to stay there unless they can show proof of being married. Sort of amusingly, they don't seem to say anything about homosexual couples and only ask sometimes when it comes to some heterosexual groups.

Well said!!!!!!! I couldn't agree more! There seems to be no limit to this hypocrisy!