The End of the Rainbow Dream

One would expect the presence of large numbers of Muslims in Western European cities to strain the traditional alliance between gays and the Left-Multicultural political establishment. Muslims, after all, make no secret about the fact that their religious law commands them to persecute — and even execute — homosexuals.

But the force of denial is strong. Up until recently there were few cracks in the Rainbow-Multicultural façade. Now things seem to be changing: homosexuals are fleeing their traditional neighborhoods in Hamburg, and are speaking up openly about what is happening.

Many thanks to JLH for translating this article from Die Welt, via SOS-Österreich:

A Multi-Culti Dream Shatters — Gays Flee Hamburg

May 14, 2012 (from WeltOnline, May 12)
by der Patriot

HAMBURG — The colorful, multiculti world in quarter St. Georg has developed fissures. Gays feel threatened by Muslims. Attacks and vulgar remarks by Muslims are directed at gays. Ahmet Yazici: “Homosexuality is a sin in Islam.”

Gays and Muslims are no longer fond of each other.* Again and again recently, there are reports of attacks and vulgar comments by Muslims against gays. Ahmet Yazici, vice chair of the Islamic community in north Germany, rejects the blanket condemnation of the Muslims in the quarter: “Homosexuality is a sin in Islam, but that would never be a legitimate reason to use violence,” says the 42 year-old. In the quarter behind the main railroad station are 13 mosques and prayer rooms. At the same time, it is the center of the homosexual scene in Hamburg.

In Formerly Gay Stores There Are Now Anatolian Tea Rooms

Previously, people would dress as was typical for the scene here, says a gay restaurateur who wishes to remain anonymous. “Now, you pull on sweatpants over it.” And if a hand-holding homosexual couple encounters several youths at night, it is best to cross to the other side of the street. “With the strong influx of Muslims, the golden days are over for the gays,” says the 49-year-old. Now, in once-gay stores, there are Anatolian tea rooms, Turkish bakeries, or mosques. Referring to the tense relationship, a gay asks in the magazine Hinnerk: “Would St. Georg be more fab without the kebab?”

The GAL [Grüne-Alternative Liste = Green, Alternative List] politician, Farid Müller, observes developments with concern. Some time ago, independently of each other, six men reported to the declared gay that they had been assaulted. They had not dared to go to the police. The reasons: inhibitions about coming out to the police and fear of reprisals.

The restaurateur who has lived in the quarter since 1978 confirms this fear of reporting assaults. There are insults and intimidations. Cars that bear the rainbow sticker — the symbol of gays and lesbians — have their windows smashed in antennas broken off. In December 2006 the sign for a counseling service for homosexuals was painted over with “Death to Gays.”

Ahmet Yazici of the Centrums Mosque, on the other hand, knows of no attacks. “That there are a couple of teenagers who say stupid things and act up — that happens everywhere,” he says. Tolerance is an active part of Muslim life. “We face up to the subject of homosexuality, even though it is taboo in most communities.”

(All of these developments were described by the Islamophobe Udo Ulfkotte more than five years ago in his book, SOS, The West)

*

The writer uses of an old expression — “to be green” = “to be fond of.” And no doubt enjoys the pun on the name of the prominent leftist party, the Greens.

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