Amazon has been bullied into restricting their search results for all LGBTQ+ related products (including items like rainbow flags) by the United Arab Emirates as reported on by The Guardian.

Bullied?

If this makes you roll your eyes because you think Amazon is too big to be intimidated, read on.

Many of the countries that criminalize LGBTQ+ behavior sit squarely in the poorer regions of the world (Burundi, Liberia, Malawi, Sierra Leone, Somalia etc.). They’re not big business so a company like Amazon, could sensibly walk away. But when you have richer nations like the UAE forcing American companies to play by their rules – even if the rules are against their core beliefs of inclusion – that’s when you have problems.

A spokesperson for Amazon expressed this exact issue to the BBC: “As a company, we remain committed to diversity, equity and inclusion, and we believe that the rights of LGBTQ+ people must be protected.” However, they added, “With Amazon stores around the world, we must also comply with the local laws and regulations of the countries in which we operate.”

Idealistically it would be great if Amazon would shake their mighty fist at the UAE and tell them to stick their demands up their oil wells. But realistically, it’s pretty difficult for them to turn their back on a country which is home to some of the wealthiest individuals in the world, continues to attract big money, and is a high-profile spot for investment and growth.

If it sounds like I’m sticking up for Amazon, the 800-pound gorilla that has plenty of people hating on it – well… I am. And that’s because they’re caught between a rock and a hard place. Walk away, it’s business suicide for them, stay they’re condoning the UAE’s bad behavior. And before you say they have plenty of cash and can afford to give the country the middle finger, remember that playing politics is a risky game.

Why?

Because politics are screwed up all over the world – where does a company draw the line on who they should do business with?

Just think about the good old USA. Our Supreme Court just overturned Roe v. Wade.

Let that sink in.

We. Overturned. Roe. V. Wade.

We now criminalize and control one part of our population (women) for doing what they want with their bodies – just like the UAE criminalizes and controls one part of their population (LGBTQ+ people) for doing what they want with their bodies.

So… ultimately, how can we be angry at Amazon for still doing business with the UAE?

We can’t. What we need to be angry about is the narrow-minded views of governments like the UAE and now the USA that choose to marginalize one sector of the population.

Photo credit: iStock.com/DedMityay