Posted on 03/27/2006 5:10:53 PM PST by Frank T
TORONTO (CP) - The co-director of the Christian Peacemakers Teams says the family of freed Christian peace activist James Loney kept his sexual orientation quiet out of fear for his safety.
Doug Pritchard says the family feared Loney might come to harm at the hands of his Iraqi captors had they known he was gay. Pritchard says it likely wouldn't have helped if Loney's partner, Dan Hunt, had come forward with public pleas for his release.
Hunt made his first public appearance since Loney's ordeal began last November when he greeted his partner Sunday at the airport.
Loney arrived in Toronto after he and two other peace activists were rescued by coalition soldiers in Iraq.
The 41-year-old Loney was kidnapped in Baghdad along with fellow Canadian Harmeet Sooden, Briton Norm Kember and American Tom Fox, whose bullet-ridden body was found earlier this month.
Loney is expected to travel to his hometown of Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., where red ribbons decorate the trees and store and restaurant owners have posted welcome-home messages in their windows.
In the city of 75,000, signs reading, "Prayers Answered - Welcome Home James" were to decorate several city buildings. At the Civic Centre, a message book was waiting for well-wishers to leave Loney a personal greeting.
The Sault Star also published a full-page colour photograph of Loney for residents to post in their windows "so that Jim, his parents Claudette and Patrick, and other family members see the joy of an entire community as he arrives home."
Loney's parents have kept a low profile since their son's arrival back in Canada, and so far no one is saying exactly when he's expected to arrive in Sault Ste. Marie.
What would his captors have done if they knew? Put panties on his head?
I'd be the first one up against the wall."
Yep, and in this case he won't be facing the wall.
But why keep it secret? They'll understand. They've been oppressed by the White patriarchy, too!
These people, queer or simply peculiar, should have stayed at home. They are at best misguided, and at worst dumber than snails.
Harmed him? Hell, they would have embraced him, so to speak.
Sorry for the link ...
On his return to Canada, Loney spoke to reporters briefly Sunday about his 118 days as a hostage, calling it a "terrifying, profound, powerful, transformative and excruciatingly boring experience."
He did not specifically address the ordeal from his perspective as a gay man.
"I need some time to get reacquainted with my partner, Dan, my family, community and freedom itself," he said, reading from a prepared statement. "I'm eager to tell the story of my captivity and rescue but I need a little time first. That's a subtle hint to anyone out there who might happen to have a big camera or notebook."
http://news.yahoo.com/s/po/20060328/co_po/familyofiraqhostagehidthatheisgay
They were afraid he wouldn't get sodomized if they knew he loved it. No wonder he was so irritated when he was rescued?
What did he mean by "big camera"?
No, BVD's
During his four months of captivity, James Loney's sexuality was kept out of the media at the request of his family, said Doug Pritchard, co-director of the aid group Christian Peacemaker Teams.It's always about them. They suffer more than anyone else because of their sexual orientation. Gee, I wonder if they can charge their captors with a hate crime? Perhaps the Iraqis can put that in their constition too."It's a sad fact that around the world gays and lesbians are more vulnerable to attack than straights," Pritchard said. "When Jim was already in a vulnerable position we didn't, nor did his family, want him exposed to further danger." Hostage's Homosexuality Was Kept Quiet
So, ashamed of his sexual orientation, is he?
The love that can not stop screeching it's name suddenly finds the closet of sexual privacy comforting.
Barf
They probably were able to tell that he was a homosexual by the collection of show tunes and Barbara Streisand in his Ipod.
I don't understand. Wouldn't the Iraqi "freedom fighters" who are being "oppressed" by the Americans find solidarity with a homosexual who is "oppressed" by "racist, homophobic, imperialist, AmeriKKKa"? Why would the "insurgents" harm an innocent person when it is the Americans who are the aggressors? I'm sure the gay hostage came out and told his captors, "Brothers, I am oppressed by the Americans just like you are!"
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