Stuck in Bahrain with no money and no way home? Get convicted of homosexuality. You'll have a one-way ticket to “somewhere else” thrust into your hands ... right after a short stay in one of their prisons. This is, of course, the case in all five Gulf Cooperation Council countries, as each has strict anti-homosexuality laws.

Bahrain's anti-homosexuality stance made Internet news this week when police officers in Hidd, a small conservative fishing village on Muharraq island, arrested 127 (mostly) gay men, for holding a “depraved and decadent” gathering. Good to know the deviant interest in all things decadent and depraved isn't just a cultural thing.

The officers were responding to a complaint of loud noises coming from the sports hall in which the party was held. When they arrived, an undercover cop paid the 20 dinar cover charge, and went inside to find a bunch of crossdressers drinking and smoking shishas (hookahs). The horrors!

Most of the men arrested were Gulf nationals, but at least one was Lebanese, and one was Syrian. If convicted of homosexuality, they will serve a prison sentence in Bahrain and then be sent home.

It's always nice to be reminded we have it relatively good over here in the states. It could always be worse.