gay couple

atesh1970 Member

3POSTS

16 years ago

We are a gay couple (Italians) living in London. My partner had a job offer in Tripoli and I am wondering if I can join him without exposing ourselves as a gay couple. I am an expert in middle eastern studies (Persian studies) so I know how to behave and act in an Islamic Country. My problem is if I will be able to get a job ( at the moment I am a PA to the Director of a Museum in London and I worked as Gallery manager in the past) or to enroll as a foreign student for Arabic language. It would be nice to know if there is a way to stay together in Tripoli. I have been living in other Islamic countries like Iran, Yemen, Lebanon so I am not worried to live in Libya my only problem is to get there.
Thanks for all your help!

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Sara1980 Active member

57POSTS

16 years ago

If you can get a job offer in Libya that will solve all the problem,my advice is not to show to the people that you are gay, and you can live together as work colleagues working here.

Gibraltar Active member

31POSTS

16 years ago

hi Sara

This is a very useful and practical suggestion. Thank you for taking the time to post.

G

atesh1970 Member

3POSTS

16 years ago

Thanks Sara! Yep I would love to find a job in Tripoli but I have no clue how to look for one!
I will try to contact local galleries and museums as well as the universities! (Do you know any art gallery in town?). My arabic is quite useless, I have studied classical arabic and I am not able to speak the language. Maybe I can enroll as a student and take up classes in Spoken Modern Arabic and then to find a job! Do you know if there are schools or Universities that offer courses in Arabic to foreign students?

Sandman6 ViP

1863POSTS

16 years ago

The Libyan system does not recognise same-sex marriages or relationships...so you can't apply to come to Libya as your partner's spouse

So the only option you have is to come to Libya under your own steam (i.e. get yourself a job here and go through the same immigration process as your partner)

atesh1970 Member

3POSTS

16 years ago

Thanks Sandman6
Is there a way to check out job offers in Tripoli?聽 Like websites, classifieds .......
I am not an engineer or an architect so for me is quite hard even to understand what I can do in Tripoli.

Sandman6 ViP

1863POSTS

16 years ago

Only thing I can suggest is to do a trawl of the recruitment agencies which specialise in expat positions. Most of us here are in oil/gas/engineering/construction.

Sara1980 Active member

57POSTS

16 years ago

atesh1970 wrote:
Thanks Sara! Yep I would love to find a job in Tripoli but I have no clue how to look for one!
I will try to contact local galleries and museums as well as the universities! (Do you know any art gallery in town?). My arabic is quite useless, I have studied classical arabic and I am not able to speak the language. Maybe I can enroll as a student and take up classes in Spoken Modern Arabic and then to find a job! Do you know if there are schools or Universities that offer courses in Arabic to foreign students?

Try this Website,

I will look for other usefull websites also for you.

clause2911 New member

6POSTS

16 years ago

[moderated: stupid joke]

officeboy Serial expat

239POSTS

16 years ago

#10

Atesh 1970,
If your partner is coming in with an expat company they may understand the situation and supply the invitation letters you require. You don't need to have a job to get here, if you need specific advice PM me.

Sandman6 ViP

1863POSTS

16 years ago

#11

It's not the company or employer which is likely to be the problem.

Spouse resident visas have to be approved by the Libyan immigration - considering that same-sex relationships are illegal in Libya, there is little hope.

officeboy Serial expat

239POSTS

16 years ago

#12

He doesn't need to come in on a spouse visa, can come in on a business visa, if the company will support him. re-applying every six months can be easily done in Malta. There's no need to over complicate it.

Horizontal Harry Contributor

143POSTS

16 years ago

#13

I can't see too many companies bending over to get a boyfriend a 6 month business visa.
Remember homosexuality is illegal here

basher_74 New member

8POSTS

15 years ago

#14

you should be cearful to show you are gay
good luck

adnankpk Guest

0POSTS

15 years ago

#15

Be very careful dude, if they find out or any local find you 2 strange, your in for a huge mess man.

Sandman6 ViP

1863POSTS

15 years ago

#16

adnankpk wrote:
Be very careful dude, if they find out or any local find you 2 strange, your in for a huge mess man.

you are so out of date, douche bag

adnankpk Guest

0POSTS

15 years ago

#17

Sandman6 wrote:
adnankpk wrote:
Be very careful dude, if they find out or any local find you 2 strange, your in for a huge mess man.

you are so out of date, douche bag

What? you actually think they can walk freely holding hand in hand and hugging each other in Green Square? Tell me about it the minute they do that they'll be watched by the hour believe me. My point is that it's simply against the law here this is a 100% muslim country for crying out loud and the only way them 2 can get away with it is act as if they're just working together and thus share a house where they live in.

This one is for you Sandeater6: "Being honest in guiding, is better than being Sandeater6"

Cheers
__________________
Expat born in Libya

MoEl Serial expat

876POSTS

15 years ago

#18

Actually I think Libya is more gay-friendly than other places. Here you can hold hands (or even pinkies) with your boyfriend and go for a walk on the beach. I've seen countless pictures of locals placing their arms around each others shoulders and posing with a smile. And they even flaunt the photos on their FB,
And if you see what happens after eid prayer, in weddings, when someone returns from Mecca...etc... oh boy, a gropefest of Gay Pride Parade-caliber.
In addition to conspicuous sexual oppression, I'd say gays from EU and the US can blend seamlessly with the Libyan population. They would even make a lot of local *friends* and much quicker than a straight individual would.

adnankpk Guest

0POSTS

15 years ago

#19

MoEl wrote:
Actually I think Libya is more gay-friendly than other places. Here you can hold hands (or even pinkies) with your boyfriend and go for a walk on the beach. I've seen countless pictures of locals placing their arms around each others shoulders and posing with a smile. And they even flaunt the photos on their FB,
And if you see what happens after eid prayer, in weddings, when someone returns from Mecca...etc... oh boy, a gropefest of Gay Pride Parade-caliber.
In addition to conspicuous sexual oppression, I'd say gays from EU and the US can blend seamlessly with the Libyan population. They would even make a lot of local *friends* and much quicker than a straight individual would.

Hey Mo,

Where you going with this? the after eid prayers, weddings, and returns from Haj or Umraa people adore you and they kiss you it's a tradition OK...it has nothing to do with being GAY! It's not like they have midnight s** later if you get what I mean, that's what the post was all about living as a gay couple.

DronYA Active member

33POSTS

15 years ago

#20

Heh.. I had a problem with taxi driver several time ago. He wanted me and doesn't restricted himself to gesticulate this action. I think this is normal relationship in Libya

mp_garcia ViP

256POSTS

15 years ago

#21

Hehehehehe, that was hilarious Moel!!!! It's a pitty that some people just don't get the point... as usual.

MoEl Serial expat

876POSTS

15 years ago

#22

DronYA wrote:
Heh.. I had a problem with taxi driver several time ago. He wanted me and doesn't restricted himself to gesticulate this action. I think this is normal relationship in Libya

At home you find male prostitute
In Libyan Jamahiriya male prostitute find you

Amelie2010 Member

21POSTS

15 years ago

#23

Hi Attesh1970,

First of all I would like to say that I am very impressed by your honesty.

I wish you a lot of luck in the search of a job or a properly position/occupation so you can join your partner asap.

In the other hand I can not stop thinking that you are "overqualified".

Anyway, tons of luck and welcome !!!

SeymourSunshine Active member

63POSTS

15 years ago

#24

Hi Atesh1970.

Could you take a short TEFL course? There are vacancies for EFL teachers. You might find that you could come here and find work (albeit quite poorly paid) in a local school.