Sexual Orientation and Gender - Clara F

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  In the states, it is not uncommon for me to see small symbols of queer identities throughout my daily life. This could be anything, from flags to pins to the rainbow crosswalks in downtown Athens. However, since being here in Morocco, I have not seen any of these symbols and none of our tours have mentioned queer people. This is very different from what I’m used to; I grew up in the New York public school system, so being gay was very accepted and I had plenty of friends that identified as something other than straight. I also have made friends since starting at UGA that are very open about their sexual identities. This is definitely not the norm in Morocco. Same sex relations between consenting adults is criminalized in Morocco and is punishable with jail time and fines (Corbisiero & Monaco, 2017). Hopefully we start to see progress in this area so that one day queer Moroccans can display their pride in the way they want. 


Reference

Corbisiero, F., & Monaco, S. (2017, January 1). Homosexual citizenship and technologies: the case of Morocco. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/353287112_Homosexual_citizenship_and_technologies_the_case_of_Morocco


Comments

  1. Evelyn LowenMay 24, 2025 at 9:20 AM

    Hey Clara, great post! I agree with you and I also noticed the stark contrast between the expression of queer identities in the U.S. and Morocco. I also grew up in a very accepting and that definitely contributed to our perspectives of the LGBTQ community. The legal and social climate in Morocco certainly highlights the ongoing challenges faced by the gay community there. I’m hopeful that with time and increased global awareness, change can happen. Do you think the laws against homosexuality will ever be taken out of Moroccan law?

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  2. Alexis GhalebMay 25, 2025 at 12:44 AM

    Hey Clara, this is such an insightful reflection. I’ve also noticed how the lack of visible queer representation here feels really heavy compared to what we’re used to in the U.S., especially coming from college campuses where pride is often celebrated openly. It makes me think about how much visibility can impact a sense of safety and identity. How do you think young Moroccans who are queer navigate their identities in such a restricted environment?

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  3. luciagravelMay 25, 2025 at 11:46 AM

    I completely agree! I remember talking about this on one of the first days, but it is such a heavy switch to go from growing up in accepting and inclusive areas to somewhere queer identities are never even mentioned. I hadn't thought about the point that none of the tours mentioned anything either. Even if Moroccan law was changed to decriminalize it, do you think the people of Morocco would accept LGBTQ+ people, or is opposition to them already too deeply ingrained in the culture?

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