On the one hand, there are numerous reports of brutal suppression of homosexuals and persons engaged in homosexual activity in Iraq, but there are also reports such as the one below that indicate there is a thriving, albeit underground, “gay scene.”
One possible explanation is traditional society in much of the Arab World and the Middle East (as well as in every other male dominated culture, I hasten to add) is quite gender segregated.  Men are considerably less reluctant to show affection toward other men and women to other women in such cultures because it is not odd. (Remember all the jokes about former President G. W. Bush and the Saudi King-then Prince-Abdullah holding hands?)   It does not threaten the domestic unit and it is assumed that it is not sexual.  In effect this makes it much easier for homosexual relationships to be hidden, even while partners.
That doesn’t change the fact that it is still a crime punishable by harsh penalties, including death, be it meted out by official courts or militias.
Iraq’s Gay Life – IslamOnline.net – News
The story is by Arif Sarhan, whose blog is well worth following.