Inspiring Moroccan gay writer Abdellah Taia

Maya Angelou in the New York Times speaking in support of marriage equality (Hat tip to Michael Crawford!):

"To love someone takes a lot of courage. So how much more is one challenged when the love is of the same sex and the laws say, 'I forbid you from loving this person'?"

Born in 1973 and dubbed "Morocco's first high-profile, openly gay man," writer Abdellah Taia studied French literature at the Universities of Rabat, Geneva, and Paris-Sorbonne. His goal in life is to win acceptance for homosexuals throughout the Muslim world.

From the Associated Press:

"Taia has defied Moroccan society's don't-ask, don't-tell attitude toward homosexuality — and prison sentences that are still on the books in the North African kingdom — to write five autobiographical novels about growing up poor and gay in the northern coastal city of Sale.

The novels, peppered with sexually explicit passages, have catapulted him to fame in his native country and made him the de-facto poster child of its budding gay rights movement.

His work has sparked harsh criticism. Taia said some outraged critics have called on him to renounce Moroccan citizenship so as 'not to bring shame' on the country.

It's also alienated him from his parents and eight siblings, who figure extensively in the books and complain that Taia has publicly humiliated them."

Now that's courage.

Check out Abdellah Taia's latest book, Salvation Army, which was recently translated into English from French and is a chronicle of his move to France from Morocco.