our 30th of April-2013 manifestation Gay and Proud

30^th of April, 2013… a week after the incident that caused a storm of outrage among the LGBT in Lebanon and the human rights delegate and supporters alike, a week after Mr Antoine Chakhtoura, Mayor of Dekwani, a residential and industrial hub in mount Lebanon,  took an unjust, illegal and unwelcomed step by raiding a gay bar located in Dekwani, and attacking the gay crowd that has been partying there for the last two years…
Mr Chakhtoura, who did not base his resolution on any judicial or legal base, and definitely no permit from any judicial authority, abused some of the attendees and arrested four, forcing them to strip naked, and taking photos of them, photos which were later leaked to online social media for more humiliation.
Breaching all these moral, judicial, legal and social rules, which place Lebanon on the list of unfriendly cities, were supported by church and religious figures, who posted posters noting that the church teaches that sexual relation should be between a male and a female only- am sure all the priests abide by this rule- proof all the scandals of child molestation, gay relations and sexual –related stories among the priest, one which lead to the resignation of the pope himself.. just recently!
however, social activists and LGBT supporters gathered today, in an event that brings back similar manifestation upon the enforcement of the shameful “egg test” of test of shame, last year.

was the gathering a success?
In a country where homosexuality is widely a taboo, and the law remains ambiguous , especially with article 534-criminal code, it takes a lot of courage for people to out themselves, and put themselves on TV, in full exposure to a community that is sinking in its hypocrisy and stigma…
however, activists from Helem, and other NGOs, and social backgrounds, gathered today infront of the palace of justice, Beirut, to shout their heart out, screaming slogans that call on the government in general and the ministry of justice in particular, to take action against the unlawful and illegal raid, arrest and assault conducted by the mayor, Chakhtoura, whose public speeches were more racist, discriminatory and hateful than his act!

How many were present?
Am sure, given better circumstances, it would ve been a lrger crowd, I mean every member of the LGBT community is affected… every mother and father of an LGBT child is affected… every citizen is affected by that breach of la and freedom…
however, with all the stigma, a brave few were there, defying the norms, the shame, the stigma and proudly shouting: Am gay and Proud! Indeed.. I am!

I had the honour to be there, among those brave few… but I have a question to drop here…
what will take for the rest of the hundreds on grinder, a gay dating app, and the thousands on manjam, to act? Til when will it be only a few dozen taking the  initiative and the burden…

I put that question to the LGBT people! Do not be ashamed that you are gay, let the homophobe be ashamed of their hateful acts and thoughts instead! United we stand! And we will… whether we were 45, or 45 000… our voices shall be heard and roars echo!

last but not least, I would really like to call on the church to stop the hateful calls… people are not to judge other people, and we all know that the bible has been manipulated to protect the social patriarchal  hierarchy… so did every other religious text.. and just read more, or investigate, why the pope recently resigned?? What was the scandal behind the scenes?? And til you dare answer.. til you dare look nature and the truth in the eyes.. we shall remain consistent and call for love, equality and our rights!

Long live LGBT in Lebanon!
Gay and Proud
Eli Abou merhi

a reaction to some recent declarations

 

 

Alexandre the great, Leonardo Da Vinci, Michelangelo,  Marcel Proust,  these are just few names  that whether one is a warrior, an artist, or a philosopher… a person must have heard of at least one of them….and their great achievements, which were of a great influence and impact on history and mankind… those people have a thing in common… yes… they are males.
well, that is obvious, but they are also into males. So they count as MSM : men who have sex with men… also in the category of Homosexuals.
So what if the new laws we apply now, in such a country as Lebanon, were applied…
what if those people were harassed, thrown into jail for their homosexuality, or better yet, killed?  Would the world has been a better place?
Luckily, we have preachers like Mr Chakhtoura, mayor of Dekwani, also few other singers such as Mohammad Skandar, and others, also Big names who are even more important than Marcel Proust, and co. such as Jamal Barakat , “ for those who don t know him, he’s one journalist at aljaras… yes.. the magazine that changed history with its scientific research and religious callings..NOT!”

IN 2013, we still struggle in Lebanon to , not even claim the basic human rights, such as the right to live, with no harassment, prejudice, the right to have our liberties respected..

I am very well admiring the concern of those who are so worried that our existence, as homosexuals, will affect their social progress, not to remind them that many of the people who made the biggest positive changes in art, history, and social and medical fields were homosexuals…

Apparently, Love threatens some… love between two same sex partners is clearly a danger to the community, because it does lead to crime…
love between two people leads to economical degradation, to corruption, to the deterioration of infrastructure and of course, the people concerned are worried tat Lebanon might fall into becoming like other cities, such as London,  San Francisco and Madrid…
Because those cities, are of course, a symbol of social deterioration and that s why, those people have great transportation system, architecture, political life, human rights, public gardens and equal pay…
With all due respect… We do not want Beirut to be dropping to such levels… we need Beirut to fit higher standards… one that it is struggling with now…

Where big prophets called on non-prejudice,  bigger, more important people disagree…

 

It’s just a small conversation that I had with the writer of an article who was showing support to the action of the mayor of Dekwani upon his raid on a gay club last Saturday, 20 th of April 2013 
I will not go into discussion about the sexual orientation of the writer of the article himself… non of my business. But I would like to point out that, when people, consider they able to judge others based on things like sexual orientation and gender…. Then I really see no hope for the nation unless we make a 180 degrees s hit and change….

I have to say that I am more than proud with the LGBT’s stand against such activities…
Bloggers, NGOs, and media… those who are brave enough to admit their sexuality, and be comfortable to live as they were born to live… enjoying and celebrating freedom… taking in their own hands to make a change and defy stigma and discrimination… we shall all meet , on the 30^th … April 2013… to make a stand.. whether gay, gay friendly, supportive of freedom and human rights … See you all there and show pride and support… until we hold our GAY PRIDE PARADE soon!