That is a very interesting debate; thank you for the links. I have to say I found Massad less than convincing despite some very good points about gay Western cultural imperialism; the claim that homosexuality and heterosexuality were invented in the 19th c is undercut quite a bit by the fact that he ignores the Arab social categories for sexuality and same-sex desire (including in-groups and out-groups) before that time.

Also, I am tired of reading pieces about x topic (homosexuality, say), and then coming across the throwaway line that the author’s not including women because not enough other scholars have covered the topic. Either come out and say you’re talking about male homosexuality, or do the research and redress this imbalance. Don’t just pretend women don’t exist, or matter enough to include.

1) The West and the Orientalism of sexuality (Joseph Massad talks to Ernesto Pagano)
http://www.resetdoc.org/EN/Massad-interview-gay.php

2) We are not agents of the West (Ghassan Makarem replies to Joseph Massad)
http://www.resetdoc.org/EN/Helem-replies-Massad.php

3) «I criticize Gay Internationalists, not gays» (Joseph Massad counter-replies to Ghassan Makarem)
http://www.resetdoc.org/EN/Massad-counter-replies.php