For the queer Yemeni, liberation comes from opposing imperialism first and foremost. This is clear, and is why I take issue with framing the government as a reactionary nightmare. Rather, in resisting imperialism, it's more common for social progress to accelerate. Yemen is one of the poorest countries in the world, and trying to frame it as an "authoritarian nightmare" just cedes the narrative to imperialists.

Yemen is progressive in the global context, and socially has a long way to go, but in that it already fights imperialism, is capable of progressing socially more expediently. This is the problem with trying to use moralistic terminology and loaded phrases like "authoritarian nightmare," it makes it seem like Yemen needs outside intervention to progress, rather than internal progress.