What If America Adopted Iran's Anti-Gay Laws?

In the Sharia law of Islam, women and men must follow a strict code of conduct. Women must cover their bodies (save for the hands and face) so that modesty is preserved. Under the Qu'ran (the religious text of Islam), there are many other codes of conduct which must be strictly abided by. The consequences for violating these moral laws can be brutally severe. As well, there are laws concerning sexuality, which Westerners find extreme. To say that the topic of homosexuality is cause for great debate where Islam is concerned, would be a gross understatement.

In September of 2007, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad spoke at Columbia University, announcing that homosexuality did not exist in his country, the way it does in America. This statement caused an uproar not only in political circles, but with a huge population of homosexual individuals who have found themselves protesting the global intolerance of their lifestyles. But Ahmadinejad's statement was not simply a casual observation on the state of affairs in his nation; his response is directly tied to the fact that homosexuals in Iran have been categorically sentenced to death for their activities. In fact, on July 21^st 2005, two gay Iranian teens were publicly hanged in the city of Mashhad. This is because Sharian law dictates that gay sex is punishable by death, which presents an interesting conjecture: what would America be like if homosexuality was punishable by execution? Here are some theories on how America's popular culture would be affected by such a drastic policy.

The Death of Hollywood and American Pop Culture

If Sharian laws were to be adopted by the United States, Hollywood would be quickly drained of many of its most popular celebrities. Joining the list of condemned would be the likes of Rosie O'Donnell and Melissa Etheridge. Say goodbye also to several others like Angelina Jolie and "The Number 23" director, Joel Schumacher, who both claim the title of "bisexual" as opposed to "gay." As a matter of fact, a fairly large percentage of actors/actresses, directors, and producers would all be under fire if this law were to take effect in America.