A Gay Qatari’s Story of Concealment Amidst Discrimination and Legal Risks
Degree-educated, bilingual, and with a successful career at one of Qatar’s leading companies, Hamad appears to embody the modern, progressive image of the country. However, he harbors a secret that he feels compelled to keep hidden: Hamad is gay in a nation where homosexuality is illegal.
“I pretend to be straight and tell people I’m seeing a girl. I conform to societal expectations. I cannot express myself at all,” he shared with The Independent from his Doha home. “I don’t find it safe.”
With a jovial demeanor and a soft-spoken voice, Hamad recounted how far his façade extends, even leading him to abandon his aspirations of studying art and design at university for fear that it might be perceived as “feminine.” Instead, he pursued an engineering degree, which he admits he despises, saying, “I am fine with it—as long as it keeps me out of the spotlight and away from people guessing my sexuality.”
Yet, the ongoing strain of living a lie weighs heavily on him: “It is so oppressive.”
As Qatar prepares to host the World Cup next year, the country’s discriminatory policies towards its LGBTQ+ community have garnered increased attention. Same-sex relationships are illegal and can result in several years of imprisonment. A conservative, religious, and authoritarian state governed by Sharia law, Qatar theoretically retains the death penalty for homosexuality, though such sentences have not been recorded in practice.
