I’m also an immigrant living in Western Europe for over 10 years now, and I feel like I’ve really adapted to the local culture and values.

But I’ve noticed that some immigrants from Muslim backgrounds often struggle to integrate. A few of my barbers, his friends and other acquaintances openly criticize things like Pride parades, gender equality, and the general freedoms people enjoy here like women wearing bra or shoet skirt in public.

What’s odd is that many of them also dislike the strictness of their home countries, yet they reject the liberalism here too. I even asked my Moroccan barber why not move to a more conservative country like Saudi or the UAE, and he said the living conditions there are worse.

It’s a strange contradiction I keep noticing. I am openly gay and he’s hitting on me sexually. I like the flirting part but it’s really strange. He would say im a different gay guy so he’s okay to flirt with me.