When a place in the Middle East is labelled as ‘gay friendly’, does this simply open it up to a new host of demands from the West, asks blogger A of Arabia.

Writing on his experiences as a gay westerner interested in LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer) issues in the Middle East, A of Arabia highlights the misplaced, 'imperialist' nature inherent in Western efforts to 'improve' gay and trans rights in other parts of the world. Western-based approaches commonly neglect acknowledgement of the economic security and opportunities associated with being openly gay within a given society, A of Arabia contends, failing in the process to take individual circumstances into account.