Pro-Gay group pickets Egypt Air

The Progressive Organization of Gays in the Philippines (ProGay) picketed the offices of Egypt Air in Makati as part of an international day of protest against the government of Egypt’s harsh treatment of gay men arrested on May 11.

ProGay joined international human rights organizations holding vigils outside Egyptian consulates and embassies to call attention to the re-opening of a court hearing where 52 arrested for alleged homosexual activities in a private party will stand trial.

Activists bandaged in bloodied "Mummy" costumes depicting homophobia and police brutality handed out leaflets to passersby in front of Egypt’s national flag carrier in the Philippines’ financial district.

Al-Fatiha, an international organization of gay and lesbian Muslims, called for the unconditional release of the gay men, some of whom were just walking near the premises or relatives of those arrested in the first dragnet.

Human rights watchdogs claim that the men have been tortured to confess and lewd photos taken from commercial sources were used to illustrate local news coverage.

ProGay called on Filipinos to boycott the tourist industry in Egypt until the men are released and charges against them are scrapped. Oscar Atadero, ProGay president, also demanded that governments scrap-anti-gay laws and policies, and the mass media in Asia to stop letting themselves be used to sensationalize and taken the reputations of authorities.