No kissing in Qatar? Fears grow of crackdown on LGBTQ fans at World Cup

More than a million soccer fans from around the world are expected to gather in Qatar for next month's FIFA World Cup, but as the global competition nears,

More than a million soccer fans from around the world are expected to gather in Qatar for next month's FIFA World Cup, but as the global competition nears, concerns over how the Gulf nation will treat its LGBTQ visitors are rising.

The Australian men’s soccer team released a video on Wednesday calling for Qatar to decriminalize same-sex relations and improve its treatment of migrant workers.

“These are the basic rights that should be afforded to all and will ensure continued progress in Qatar,” one of the players said. “This is how we can ensure a legacy that goes well beyond the final whistle of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.”

On Tuesday, British LGBTQ activist Peter Tatchell stood outside the National Museum of Qatar for 35 minutes holding a sign that read, “Qatar arrests and subjects LGBTs to conversion” and wearing a T-shirt that read, “#QatarAntiGay.” Tatchell, who was a leading member of the Gay Liberation Front in the United Kingdom, said he was held by Qatari police officers for 49 minutes before being told to leave the country immediately. Qatar’s Government Communications Office denied that Tatchell was arrested or detained, saying in a statement that Tatchell was “cordially” asked by officers to leave.

In a sign of solidarity with the LGBTQ community — and a breach of FIFA uniform rules — eight of Europe's soccer teams joined forces last month and announced that their teams would wear armbands emblazoned with rainbow hearts and "1 love" at the international competition.

https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-politics-and-policy/no-kissing-qatar-fears-grow-crackdown-lgbtq-fans-world-cup-rcna54320


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