A special ceremony was held at New York University to honor Lebanese gay activist Georges Azzi on March 30th, 2009.
The International Gay & Lesbian Human Rights Commission honored Azzi’s organization Helem, which means “dream” and translates into the acronym Lebanese Protection for Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals and Transgender in Arabic, at a ceremony at New York University on March 30. Founded in 2004, the organization is based in Beirut and has affiliates in Montreal, Paris, San Francisco and Sydney. Helem opened the Arab world’s first LGBT center in the Lebanese capital. And the country’s Ministry of Health has acknowledged the organization as Lebanon’s leading HIV/AIDS service provider.
I was so disappointed for having missed it, especially that it took place at NYU. This was a major move forward for the LGBT in Lebanon since the government has finally called for “the decriminalization of homosexuality.”
Imagine what this means for the LGBTs who still face harassment from family and the police.
Law 534, which criminalizes homosexuality with up to a year in prison, remains on the books even though judges rarely impose the sentence. Azzi noted, however, he feels corruption remains a serious problem in the country.
“The fact this still exists means police can use it at anytime,” he said.
Read the entire article here.
The following video shows a demonstration by the some gay activists in Beirut to ban the Law 534.
(Double click at the center of the window)
Here’s another documentary dating from 2007 that brings out the harsh reality that gays and lesbians have to live in Lebanon.
Out of Lebanon 