Arabic Title Turns Book from “Gay” to “Pervert”

Michael Luongo, author of the “first-ever gay book to have been translated into Arabic,” just had his travel book’s title translated into a derogatory Arabic heading: “Pervert Travels in the Muslim World.”

Luongo’s original English title was “Gay Travels in the Muslim World,” but according to Page Six, the Arabic translators made the editorial substitution “Pervert” for “Gay.” The author worries about the implications for sales the new title might have, and has requested a title-change.

Here’s more from Luongo, quoted in the article: “Remember that even in America, in the time of Stonewall 40 years ago, ‘pervert’ was the word used instead of ‘gay’ and the Arab world just hasn’t caught up.”

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