Family of Iraq hostage hid that he is gay

[ECH1969]

Efforts to secure the release of Christian peace activist James Loney from four months of captivity in Iraq involved concealing his identity as a gay man, the Canadian Press reported Monday.

Loney, 41, a Canadian who was in Iraq working for the Christian Peacemaker Teams, was released last week with two colleagues, fellow Canadian Harmeet Sooden and Norman Kember of Britain. He arrived in Toronto on Sunday and was greeted by his partner, Dan Hunt.

"There is a very, very serious threat to life for gay people in Iraq today," exiled gay Iraqi Ali Hili told the Gay City News. "We are receiving regular reports from our extensive network of contacts with underground gay activists and gay people in Iraq -- intimidation, beatings, kidnappings, and murders of gays have become an almost daily occurrence."

"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

[Teaser]

1. fundies are gonna love that...

"We KNEW they weren't REALLY Christian."

...arg...

[C_U_L8R]

2. I can hear their little freeper brains popping

like bubblewrap...