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| Photo credit: https://twitter.com/maricris031572 |
DOHA, QATAR: Media reports of a popular Filipino comedian and TV host’s shows here tomorrow has stoked a major controversy as the visiting artiste is believed to be a gay.
Many in the Qatari community have been left angry after local Arabic dailies reported that comic Vice Ganda is to perform here with two well-known Filipino film personalities.
While some say that the fact that Ganda, who dresses up like a woman and wears make-up, has been allowed to stage a show for his community indicates that Qatar is opening up in preparation for the 2022 event, there are others who are dead opposed to his arrival here, least of all performing at a public venue.
Many in the largely conservative Qatari community have even threatened to approach the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs with a request to stop Ganda’s show.
Then, there are others who wonder how the controversial stage show is being permitted to be organised by the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Heritage. Or, is that the Ministry has no say in the matter, wondered many.
Reports of Ganda’s show have created such a row that local social networking sites were yesterday abuzz with the talk of more than 100 people writing comments, most of them adverse.
“It’s an insult to our religion and culture. God save our country,” was how one commentator reacted, while another said that such a show being held on the eve of the Holy Month of Ramadan was a matter of
grave concern.
“This is the price we have to pay for openness and freedom,” wrote yet another commentator, cryptically asking if openness was really needed and if at all, at what cost.
One commentator wrote he wanted to know which senior officials were facilitating the entry of Ganda. “Are there officials above those who are allowing him to come here? They must intervene and prevent his entry.”
There was at least one commentator who said the Filipino community had no right to have fun at the expense of local traditions, religion and customs.
“The show is being held right before Ramadan. God forgive us!,” wrote a commentator, while another said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had given the go-ahead for the controversial show so the Cabinet must be approached with a request to stop it.
Some commentators said they would like to attend the show so they could hurl shoes and rotten tomatoes at the controversial artiste.
There were some who wanted to know when Ganda was supposed to arrive so they could go to the airport and ‘try and make him a man again’.
“Our country is not for homosexuals,” wrote an angry commentator, while another said the organisers had denied that Ganda was gay.
Only one commentator said that he thought the reports about the Filipino comedian were being exaggerated. “He is a comedian so he can look like that,” said the commentator.
Source: The Peninsula Qatar
