Beirut Pride

Beirut Pride is the annual non-profit LGBTIQ+ pride event and militant march held in Beirut, the capital of the Lebanon.[1] Operating to decriminalize homosexuality in Lebanon, Beirut Pride celebrates the diversity of LGBTIQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans*, intersex, queer, questioning +) persons with colorful and festive events, champions LGBTIQ+ allies, and communicates about LGBTIQ+ topics.

Beirut Pride
بيروت تفتخر
The logo of Beirut Pride, a playful mix of the initials B and P, designed by agency /lorem ipsum/. The letter P is made with the hatches of the original rainbow flag 8 colors that a solid base turns into the B of Beirut.
A rainbow flag flying in Mar Mkhayel on May 20, 2017
StatusActive
GenrePride, Demonstration, Festival, Conference, Concerts, Exhibitions, etc.
FrequencyAnnually since 2017
Location(s)Several venues in Beirut
CountryLebanon
Years active3
Founded2017
FounderHadi Damien
Most recentMay 2018
Next eventSeptember 28 – October 6, 2019
Participants4,000 persons in 2017; 2,700 during the first three days of 2018
AreaNational and overseas
Filing statusNon-profit
MemberInterpride
Websitewww.beirutpride.org

Beirut Pride takes place over several days in many venues in Beirut that vary every year, and runs a number of events such as panel discussions, seminars, debates, workshops, cultural and sports events, art and fashion exhibitions, theatre and performance, film screenings, literary events, community hang outs, food gatherings, parties and celebrations.

The program is open to the public, with most events free of charge. It attracts and welcomes participants from various backgrounds: citizens, expats residing in the country, members of the Lebanese diaspora, visitors, media, tourists, academics, and people of all genders, ethnicities, sexualities and races. To accommodate the multilingual city, most communication happens in Arabic, English and French.

Since its inception in 2017, Beirut Pride has been the first and only LGBTIQ+ pride in the arabophone world, and its largest LGBTIQ+ event.[2][3] It has been the topic of two MA theses, one post-doctoral research and six documentaries, so far covered in 17 languages in 350 articles. Its first installment gathered 4,000 persons, and 2,700 people participated in the first three days of its 2018 edition, before the police cracked it down and arrested its founder Hadi Damien. The next day, the prosecutor of Beirut suspended the scheduled activities, and initiated criminal proceedings against Hadi for organizing events “that incite to debauchery”.[4] Nevertheless, its third edition is scheduled for September/October 2019.

Beirut Pride is a way forward, a celebration of achievements and a commemoration of legacy. It builds on the work of admirable first-timers who paved the way by making themselves visible in much more challenging times. Beirut Pride honors them, and raises its voice for queer people bullied at school, in college, in the workspace, in hospitals, within their family, by the State, or queers victim of hate crimes.[5]


The Lebanese Context

LGBTIQ+ & the Law

Lebanon plays host to the first LGBT non-profit organisation in the arabophone world, and has been witnessing, since the 2000s, a mushrooming of various NGO that work on LGBT issues. The polyglot capital Beirut has a reputation of a tolerant, open-minded city, and has been the location of ACID, the first gay club in the region.[6] LGBT activists have often raised rainbow flags during national protests, sports events and concerts, and organisations many times called to protest police brutality, humiliation of LGBT people, and to demand the cancellation of Article 534 from the Lebanese Criminal Code. The latter stipulates that “intercourse against nature is punishable with up to one year in jail”. Even though courts don’t imprison LGBT people for homosexuality, several humiliations and abuses take place in detention centers such as the “egg test”, a practice that consists for the investigators to introduce an egg-shaped metal in the rectum of “suspected homosexuals” to prove anal intercourse. This medically unfounded test has been decried by human rights organisations and was associated to torture. While no more egg practices have been communicated since 2014, “suspects” undergo lengthy, expensive and invasive trials that conclude with a fine to pay, and the registration of the criminal offence “pervert” or “sexual deviant” or “sodomite” for ten years on their police record - a humiliating reality that dehumanizes, breaches privacy, and hinders employment opportunities. LGBT institutionalized harassment is ongoing, and several LGBT events have been recently cracked down by the police: law enforcement officers consider other sections from the criminal code to halt LGBT events on the grounds of disruption of public order, immorality or incitement to debauchery. Trans* individuals are often considered sex workers, and are subjected to prosecution for behavior “that is against nature”.

A Decriminalization in Progress

Beirut Pride works for the full decriminalization of homosexuality, which means dissociating homosexuality from punitive texts and their interpretations. It doesn’t only call for the abrogation of Section 534, as other texts are also used against homosexuality, and non-heterosexual, non-procreative practice between consenting adults in private. Decriminalization stretches beyond the law and concerns police officers awareness and education.

Eight judiciary decisions have been so far taken in favor of the decriminalization, with magistrates acquitting individuals brought before them on the grounds of Article 534 and its manifold interpretations. The first ruling was issued on December 2, 2009 by judge Mounir Sleiman in Batroun. It concerned two young men, arrested while kissing and caressing in a car, without engaging in a sexual act. The second judgement was ruled on January 28, 2014 by Magistrate Naji al-Dahdah in Metn. He did not criminalize a transgender woman who admitted to having sex with men, and who was prosecuted on the basis of Article 534. On May 5, 2016, Judge Hisham Qantar issued a ruling that halted the investigation of a Syrian citizen, arrested for wearing women’s clothing given his feminine leanings since childhood. On January 26, 2017, Judge Rabih Maalouf ruled that homosexuality was not a crime, only for prosecutors to appeal his decision.[7] On July 12, 2018, the Court of Criminal Appeal in Mount Lebanon confirmed his verdict that consensual sex between people of the same sex is not unlawful.[8][9] It was the first time that a higher court ruled against the criminalisation of homosexuality. On November 14, 2018, the Court of Appeal in Beirut refused to prosecute three men for homosexuality. On 23 November 2018, a Beiruti court issued a ruling about an armed robbery of two gay men without prosecuting them based on Article 534. On 31 March 2019, military prosecutor Judge Peter Germanos refused to initiate criminal proceedings against four soldiers who were brought to him on the grounds of homosexual conduct.[10]

While people used to be interrogated for homosexuality on the simple ground of their fashion look, their feminine gesture or on the ground of an information that police officers receive, such practices have become less rampant. Prosecutors have started to refuse initiating criminal proceedings for homosexuality, and judges of lower and higher courts acquit individuals. Many other rulings were made in this sense, but parties did not wish to make their case public. However, power abuses still exist, organizing is constantly challenged, LGBT events are halted, and hate-speech is ongoing.

Beirut Pride Emerges

The global advances on the LGBT file and the momentum they created were the incentive for then 28-year old Hadi Damien to start planning Beirut Pride in August 2016.[11] Acknowledging the need for a communications platform that stretches on several consecutive days, that speaks several languages, that taps into the universality of the creative sector, and that is structured, visible, loud and collaborative, Hadi approached friends and LGBT NGOs, gathering a group of dedicated people to reflect and to communicate on the LGBTIQ+ file in Lebanon.

Beirut Pride has since been committed to decriminalizing homosexuality, fighting homophobia, bringing visibility to sexual minorities, raising awareness about HIV/AIDS, promoting social equality in general, and drawing attention to the problems faced by LGBT persons, for it is only through visibility that we deconstruct myths, lies and prejudice that surround the LGBT file.

Beirut Pride 2017

The first edition of Beirut Pride took place May 14–21, 2017 to coincide with the International Day Against Homophobia. It drew four thousand people who participated in an exhibition of gender-fluid garments and its roundtable, a 101 drag workshop, a lip-synching performance, an LGBT storytelling night, NGO open doors, film screenings, a roundtable about LGBT persons in Lebanese movies and TV series, several parties, a legal talk, the launching of 3 t-shirts designed by Bashar Assaf x Marwan Kaabour, a drag show, and a party in Mar Mkhayel, the trendiest nightlife street in Beirut, where 18 bars flew the rainbow flag.[12][13] A march was scheduled for May 21, 2017, but in the days building to it, the intents for participation exceeded all expectations, and therefore, the planned logistics were insufficient to properly accompany the march. Therefore, organizers booked a large mountain land overlooking the Mediterranean, where participants indulged in barbecue, beer, live music, organic food, games, tanning and dancing. In support of Beirut Pride, several embassies flew the rainbow flag.[14]

This edition was troubled when NGOs Proud Lebanon and Helem suffered from a call for boycott from religious organisations who called on to the authorities to stop both events. Each organization had planned a full conference day with performances, talks and screenings. The hotel that Proud Lebanon had booked cancelled the reservation, and Helem turned its event into a closed conference, broadcast on social media in an attempt to avoid violent escalation that would endanger the safety of participants.[15][16]

From May 14 to 21, 2017, four thousand persons participated in the activities of Beirut Pride. The Beirut Pride 2017 bracelets were distributed for free, and the media coverage surpassed all expectations. 80 volunteers were part of the organization effort.

Beirut Pride 2018

The second edition of Beirut Pride was scheduled for May 12–20, 2018. It started with a brunch in honor of the parents who did not kick their LGBT children from the family house because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. The opening party brought 800 persons who sang and cheered to the performance of Lebanese singer and dancer Khansa, acclaimed Sudanese Brooklyn-based music band “Alsarah and the Nubatones”, and danced to the disco music until the early morning hours.[17][18] A Sunday brunch at the independent art incubator “Haven for Artists” featured a talk about trans-identity, followed by a talk with migrant workers about masculinity and femininity, before the massive Beirut Grand Ball. Additionally, Beirut Pride announced the Corporate Pledge project it was developing: a policy for corporations not to discriminate against staff and clients based on their sexuality and identity. Moreover, performances, talks, a gender-fluid fashion show and parties were programmed, a podcast and a magazine were ready to be launched. However, on the third night, Monday, May 14, 2018, Beirut Pride was raided following the dissemination of a homophobic, sensational, fabricated programme that was attributed to Beirut Pride. The police arrested the organiser of Beirut Pride, and despite the interrogation proving the falsity of the accusations, the general prosecutor of Beirut ordered the suspension of the scheduled activities before initiating criminal proceedings against Hadi Damien for organizing events “that incite to debauchery”.[19][20]

Following the crackdown, Beirut Pride witnessed a surge in support with hundreds of people calling, sending messages and offering assistance. A media frenzy surrounded the event, and condemnations poured from international organisations, foreign governments, Lebanese parliamentarians, InterPride, and other prides such as Marseille Pride and Copenhagen Pride.[21][22]

Beirut Pride 2019

The third edition was announced for September 28 - October 6, 2019.[23] The year 2019 also marks the 50th commemoration of the Stonewall riots. The opening ceremony that was supposed to be held in Aresco center 3 "The Palace" in Al Hamra, got postponed after the mufti of the republic asked to stop the festival's activities accusing them of "violating moralities"[24].

Beirut Pride Initiatives

For Beirut Pride to sustainably grow, organizers went beyond Pride Days and started working on some LGBTIQ+ files. Beirut Pride opened channels of communication with all religious authorities and political parties. It lobbied during the Parliamentary elections of May 2018 for the decriminalization of homosexuality, which the Kataeb Party and some independent candidates endorsed from the civil society and from the traditional parties.[25] Contributing to the fight against homophobia, Beirut Pride collaborated with the American University of Beirut and with the Lebanese American University. It maintained its media presence, and worked with journalists and reporters on several LGBTIQ+ coverage. Beirut Pride facilitated several shootings in Lebanon about LGBTIQ+ thematics, and initiated the Arabic script #TypeWithPride based on the Gilbert Color Bold typeface, currently in development with designer Ghiya Haidar and Fontself.[26] Through a regular presence on the international scene, participating to local and global talks, conferences and panels, expanding philanthropy and assistance, Beirut Pride constantly builds its reputation which positions it in the LGBTIQ+ global narrative.[27][28][29]

HIV/AIDS

For World AIDS Day, Beirut Pride launched a three-day event focusing on HIV and sexually transmitted infections. Organizers got the rights to adapt the UNAIDS World AIDS Day campaign of 2017, and renewed this collaboration in 2018. Beirut Pride also issued the trilingual HIV Multi-Sectorial Framework in Lebanon, before revisiting and augmenting a parliament bill that frames the rights of people living with HIV, emphasizes on national prevention outreach and criminalises discrimination against seropositive people.[30][31]

See also

References
  1. https://www.voanews.com/middle-east/lebanons-first-ever-pride-week-shines-light-lgbt
  2. Kanso, Heba (May 17, 2017). "RPT-Lebanon launches Arab world's first gay pride week". Reuters. Retrieved May 21, 2017.
  3. Houé, Mélanie (May 20, 2017). "Le Liban organise la première Gay Pride du monde arabe". Libération. Retrieved May 21, 2017.
  4. Teeman, Tim (2018-08-09). "'Love Always Wins': Inside the Fight for LGBT Equality in Lebanon". The Daily Beast. Archived from the original on 10 August 2018. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
  5. https://stepfeed.com/we-talked-to-the-organizer-behind-lebanon-s-first-pride-week-7381
  6. http://www.newnownext.com/first-ever-pride-celebration-held-in-lebanon/05/2017/
  7. https://www.hrw.org/news/2017/02/02/lebanon-edges-closer-decriminalizing-same-sex-conduct
  8. https://en.annahar.com/article/835231-gay-rights-in-lebanon-a-positive-step-in-the-right-direction
  9. https://www.hrw.org/news/2018/07/19/lebanon-same-sex-relations-not-illegal
  10. https://www.alaraby.co.uk/english/News/2019/3/30/Lebanon-acquits-gay-soldiers-ruling-homosexuality-not-a-crime
  11. Qiblawi, Tamara (May 16, 2017). "Beirut gay pride event a first for Lebanon". CNN. Retrieved May 21, 2017.
  12. https://www.executive-magazine.com/special-report/design-and-gender-identity-in-lebanon
  13. https://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2017/05/26/529687842/at-beiruts-first-pride-week-a-chance-to-celebrate-and-take-stock-of-challenges
  14. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/05/21/beirut-pride-week-goes-ahead-despite-islamist-threats/
  15. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/05/21/beirut-pride-week-goes-ahead-despite-islamist-threats/
  16. https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2017/06/6-pride-events-went-face-violent-threats/
  17. https://www.lorientlejour.com/article/1115571/beyrouth-se-met-aux-couleurs-de-la-gay-pride.html
  18. https://www.lorientlejour.com/article/1113607/khansa-pour-travestir-les-regles-du-jeu.html
  19. Teeman, Tim (2018-08-09). "'Love Always Wins': Inside the Fight for LGBT Equality in Lebanon". The Daily Beast. Archived from the original on 10 August 2018. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
  20. https://www.lorientlejour.com/article/1115857/le-coordinateur-de-la-beirut-pride-detenu-puis-libere-sous-condition.html
  21. https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/beirut-prides-hadi-damien-qa-lebanons-lgbt-movement-growing
  22. https://lepetitjournal.com/beyrouth/hadi-damien-les-lendemains-de-la-beirut-pride-sont-brillants-245054
  23. https://perspective-daily.de/article/809/probiere
  24. "La soirée d'ouverture de Beirut Pride 2019 « suspendue jusqu'à nouvel ordre »". L'Orient-Le Jour (in French). 2019-09-26. Retrieved 2019-09-28.
  25. https://www.beirutpride.org/elections2018-en
  26. "Sneak-peek at the Arabic version of the #typewithpride font Gilbert".
  27. http://www.dailystar.com.lb/Life/Lubnan/2019/Feb-02/475711-beirut-takes-part-in-french-institutes-global-night-of-ideas.ashx
  28. https://www.frontrunnersmarseille.org/media/uploaded/sites/13027/document/5b23b0cfd95a6_PrideMarseille2018Programmeweb.pdf
  29. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2019-07-21. Retrieved 2019-07-21.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  30. https://www.beirutpride.org/wad/campaign
  31. https://www.beirutpride.org/wad



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