[chad_oliver]

Here's a blog post (from someone I trust) which seems to contradict you:

http://www.wanderingearl.com/welcome-to-syria-my-friend/

"I am simply unable to recall any other country that I’ve visited where I’ve been so instantly and warmly welcomed and I still cannot believe how many people have approached me in the streets just to literally say the words “Welcome to Syria my friend!”"

[vacri]

A lesbian couple I know travelled through west Africa and the middle east. They mentioned that Syria was far more welcoming than the stereotype suggests, and that they felt safe there. This was only a few years ago.

While I doubt they were openly advertising their homosexuality, they still were two women travelling alone, off the beaten path, which was enough to cause a lot of their friends back home to express concern.