Lesbian Gay/Lesbian Activists Fighting for Rights

In February this year 50 Lebanese activists, some carrying rainbow flags, protested against the beating of two gay men by police in a central square in Beirut. What made this demonstration special was that it may have been the first public protest against the treatment of gays in the conservative Arab world. Ghassan is one the founding members of Helem, Lebanon’s leading LGBTI activist group. “The protest is part of a general campaign to remove 534, but the main goal was to stand up to violence in the streets carried out by the state, through police, army, intelligence services, etc,” Ghassan said. Article 534 of the Lebanese penal code states, “Punishment of all sexual relations that are unnatural with imprisonment from one month to one year, and a fine ranging between LBP200,000 [AU$165] and one million Lebanese pounds [AU$825].” Full Story from SSO

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