Country Guide

In May 2001, the Egyptian government arrested 52 men in a massive raid at a gay disco in Cairo. Two years later, 21 of them were convicted of "debauchery" and handed 3-year prison terms. The highly publicized trials were citied vehemently by human rights groups and Western governments, to no avail: Egyptian authorities had a message to send and they did so loudly. Mainstream Egyptians, generally disdainful of homosexuals, applauded the verdicts. Today, the Egyptian gay scene is virtually non-existent, and many who can afford to do so have sought refuge in the West. Still, if you're a gay or lesbian traveler, you're unlikely to encounter any problems as long as you remain discreet. Luckily, same-sex physical contact -- such as holding hands and hugging -- is more publicly acceptable here than touching members of the opposite sex.

For more information about gay and lesbian travel, check out the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA) (tel. 800/448-8550 or 954/776-2626; www.iglta.org), the trade association for the gay and lesbian travel industry, which offers an online directory of gay- and lesbian-friendly travel businesses; go to their website and click on "Members."

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