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Journalism of Courage
Britan’s Foreign Office, straight-laced guardian of a global empire in Victorian times, embraces the 21st century on Thursday by offering special advice to gay and lesbian travellers.
The government will spell out 10 ‘‘top tips’’ for travellers to avoid legal or cultural hostility towards same-sex relationships. Officials say it is a first of its kind by a foreign ministry.
The advice, to be posted on the Foreign Office website (www.fco.gov.uk/knowbeforeyougo), ranges from warnings about death penalties and police ‘‘entrapment campaigns’’ to the threat of thieves who prey specifically on gay neighbourhoods.
It also counsels gay, lesbian, and bisexual tourists on whether to ‘‘out’’ themselves while abroad and suggests how transgender travellers, who have changed sex, can get replacement passports under their ‘‘new’’ identity.
The advice does not name countries where visitors may encounter problems, but warns that in some same-sex relations are punishable by death.
The advice is being released just two days after Egypt, a popular tourist destination with a largely conservative Muslim population, opened the re-trial of 50 Egyptian men charged with practising ‘‘sexual immorality’’ — a euphemism for homosexuality. British celebrities joined the calls for the men’s release. (Reuters)
