American
University of Beirut
Homosexuality
in Lebanon
Submitted by:
Khadija Ahmad and Jonathan Tayah
Submitted
to: Dr. Zane Sinno
English 203
Section 4
Introduction:
Homosexuality has been a controversial topic for decades. People
argue over the causes, whether with or against, whether it is
religiously/politically tolerated, and whether a disease or not. Homosexuality
is the mental and physical attraction of the same sex in a romantic, sexual,
way. Many turn to religion as a way to justify the means of homosexuality while
others use the natural sciences. Many people do not even try to justify
homosexuality; instead they accept homosexuals as normal and ordinary people.
Unfortunately, Lebanon is filled with closed-minded people who refuse to acknowledge
let alone encourage and accept homosexuality. There are both civil and ‘sharia’
laws against homosexuality and the majority of the population have trouble
letting homosexuals be. The problem that persists in the Lebanon is the tough
measures taken against same-sex behavior including torture, humiliation, and suppression
of human rights. The main issue of this problem is the religion-oriented governmental
methods of Lebanon, which have been reinforced for decades. In order to rectify
this problem, it is significant to create laws that protect those who are under
this ‘abuse’ and raise awareness of this problem and expose the government
responsible of these unkind methods.
Background Information
This sexual preference might be caused by numerous
events, such as the combination of genetics, hormones, and crucial external
instances. Other roots could be traumatic experiences through childhood and/or
the absence of a parental figure of a certain gender, male or female. A
misconception revolves around the idea of homosexuality as it is usually
referred to as an illness or even a genetic mutation of some sort. However,
studies show that this genetic mutation is a natural occurrence that causes a
shift in sexual orientation. In the past and still occurring in the present,
people who identify as homosexual have been tortured, humiliated, and even
executed for being different. From the people they choose to love, to the way
they choose to act, to the clothes they choose to wear in, homosexuals have
always been discriminated against as being something nature has not intended, a
mistake (LGBT Rights, 2013).
Rightfully, as time is progressing and after a significant amount of protests,
speeches, and actions, homosexuality is becoming more accepted among society
and even more understood. With the ever-changing world, new laws are rising
that aim to protect homosexual individuals’ rights. The LGBT community is able
to live more freely and to express themselves as they see fit.
Homosexual Couples
Homosexual couples in many countries have the right to
marriage, a huge step forward in this movement; however, this is not the case
in Lebanon. According to APA studies (2008), homosexual and heterosexual
couples have an equal amount of satisfaction and commitment in the relationship.
Further research proves that many lesbian women and gay men form durable relationships.
For instance, survey data indicate that between 18 and 28 percent of gay
couples and between 8 and 21 percent of lesbian couples have lived together 10
years or more. It is also suggested by APA studies that the stability of
same-sex couples might be enhanced if partners from same-sex couples enjoyed
the same levels of support and recognition for their relationships as
heterosexual couples do (such as legal rights and social tolerance).
However, unlike various countries aiding this
development and acceptance, Lebanon is progressing towards acceptance, but at a
drastically slower pace. This may be primarily due to Lebanon’s dominant
religious ethnographic situation in which Islam and Christianity are the main
religions. The movement in Lebanon is hindered due to contradictory beliefs
between homosexuality and the religions mentioned. Farah Wael argues that “[i]n
a country drenched in sectarianism, debates about homosexuality are easily dismissed
in the name of religion and homosexuals are accused of promoting debauchery” (2014, para.
4). The government, greatly influenced by religion,
even has a law stated in article 534 that “[a]ny sexual intercourse contrary to
the order of nature is punished by imprisonment for up to one year” (Wael, 2014).
This indicates how homosexuality is still considered as something unnatural in
Lebanon, and this discrimination must stop. If the acts of the individuals are
not harmful to the community as a whole then they must not be judged and
punished.
Perceived Homosexuality
The socially constructed images of men and women may be
a factor that amplifies such discrimination against homosexuality. Modern
Lebanese television series, both those produced locally and from Turkey, for
example, always seem to portray the ‘man’ as a being who possess animalistic,
violent qualities. The woman on the other hand is seen as dependent, fragile,
and weak. This could be an example of how media may be affecting the view of
homosexuality. A link is formed in Lebanon between homosexuality, masculinity,
and femininity. People usually tend to judge a person primarily on their
physical appearance. For instance, if a man were to wear clothing socially
perceived as made for ‘women’, he may be labeled as gay. Any divergence from
the norms of masculinity or femininity projects a homosexually perceived
attitude. Thus, people are seen as homosexuals when they stray from the
stereotypical gender roles portrayed on television. People should not use
physical features diverging from the norm associated with a certain gender as
an accurate assessment and indicator of someone’s sexual orientation.
Nature Versus Nurture
The whole nature versus nurture debate has been going
on for a long while. Considering homosexuality as out of the ‘norm’, many
people try to justify how it came to be. For a while, the American Psychiatric
Association diagnosed homosexuality as a disorder. When it comes to this
debate, many claim that homosexuals were genetically programmed to be this way
and that they did not ‘choose’ to have this sexual orientation. Others contend
that the upbringing and environment of this child caused this to happen. A lot
of evidence has been provided from both ends of the debate. In the 1930’s,
biologist Alfred Kinsey, conducted a study on homosexuality to see how many
adult males were homosexuals and how they came to be (Thompson & Devine,
1998). Kinsey’s theory proposes that homosexual behavior is influenced by
family structure and its malfunctions. Irving Bieber (1962) conducted research
on a group of male homosexuals where he found that the majority had mothers who
were affectionate and protective and fathers who were isolated and hostile.
Freud suggests that in this case, the father fails to become a masculine
role-figure for the child. After psychologically testing homosexuals and
heterosexuals, Hooker (1957) concluded that there is no direct link between
social environment and homosexuality.
On the other end of the debate, biological theorists
have discovered anatomical, genetic and endocrine irregularities in
homosexuals. Ngun (2015) claims that there are indications in the spaces
between the DNA that may be correlated to homosexuality. The molecular marks,
"epigenetic marks", command genes to turn on and off and control the
strength of expression. Some geneticists suggest that it is both nature and
nurture that may result in homosexuality.
Torture and Humiliation
The motionless forward LGBT movement in Lebanon has allowed the
government to enforce inhumane laws against homosexual conduct. To start, Helem is a Lebanese non-governmental organization founded
in 2004 that strives for the “liberation” of any individual identified with the
LGBTQ community from the violation of justice and human rights. Helem’s major
achievement is to eliminate the law stated in article 534 against “’unnatural
sexual intercourse’” (Helem, 2015) and bring equality to those who have been
treated with a lack of justice. Although Helem has pushed the LGBT movement
agenda further, Lebanon still considers homosexual conduct a crime and
torturous acts are still preformed. For example, two men who were questioned of
being gay due to a phone contact were taken to prison for three weeks, beaten,
tortured, and humiliated. This event stemmed from one policeman who presumed
that they were gay and decided that they should be punished (Najib, 2015).
Another example is “[i]n 2013, Antoine Chakhtoura, mayor of the Beirut suburb
of Dekwaneh, ordered security forces to raid and shut-down Ghost, a
gay-friendly nightclub” claiming that “‘we fought battles and defended our land
and honor, not to have people come here and engage in such practices in my
municipality’” (Wael, 2014). Later, four people were arrested and taken back to
the municipality headquarters where they suffered from abuse, both mentally and
physically, and were forced to “enact intimate acts which included kissing”
(Wael, 2014). In these cases, it is easily seen how these citizens were treated
violently with a lack of human rights. The act of discrimination against these
individuals should be considered a crime and not the harmless acts of
homosexuality.
Religion
Religion, being a part of culture, has a massive impact on people’s
upbringing, especially in a country like Lebanon with such strict and
conservative mindsets. As much as people try to deny it, certain monotheistic
religions abide by the same rules with respect to various issues, one of which is
homosexuality. These religions also have a lot of influence on the general
public’s view of controversial topics, particularly ones that are considered to
be a ‘taboo’, in this case the idea of homosexuality. Often, just the notion of
a same-sex couple in such an uptight society angers various people, and the
word “homosexuality” carries with it so much negative connotation that people
in Lebanon who have not acknowledged, let alone accepted the legitimacy of the
LGBTQ community, often use it as an insult. Even using Islamic terminology,
homosexuality is alternatively called al-fahsha' (an obscene act), shudhudh
(abnormality), or 'amal qawm Lut (behavior of the People of Lut), showing that
the negativity associated with gays and lesbians is deeply rooted in the very
foundations of religions.
Unfortunately, even in this age of knowledge and technology in
Lebanon, some people are still fully embedded in these outdated ideals that
were known to be discussed early on in the discovery of religion and
religiosity. Homophobia became standard and coded in people’s minds without realization.
From one generation to another,
homophobia is passed on. For instance, the discrimination surrounding the
people of the Lebanese LGBTQ community are quite evident in the way events
related to pride are treated by authoritative figures in the country. As all
other countries are moving forward in their degrees of open-mindedness and
tolerance of different people and their preferences, Lebanon still manages to
remain within the ever-stagnant circle of narrow-mindedness, with the excuse
that it is home to many different religions and sects. However, the countries
that have developed to the point of legalization of same-sex marriage also have
citizens of many different backgrounds, but are not rooted in corruption and
excessive adherence to religion and outdated doctrines. In certain instances,
people’s religiosity in Lebanon succeeds at clouding their judgment and making
them maintain a narrow-minded view of anything slightly deviating from the
‘norm’, rejecting it and ruling it as foreign, and later creating a stigma and
negativity around it, causing people to internalize this, and thus keep the
society in a state of stagnancy, regardless of everyone else’s mental evolution
and the constant increase in the knowledge shared in the world. Somehow, the
Lebanese still manage to remain in their place, or even take a few steps back,
even when everyone else is moving forward.
Reducing
Homophobia
There is no doubt that
homophobia can never be completely abolished in the world’s current society,
especially in a region where religion is the main staple in which the judicial,
schooling, and political system is based upon: Lebanon. However, through other
aspects that affect one’s judgment, there is a possibility to reduce the
discrimination against homosexual individuals and ultimately aid these
individuals in breaking the restraints of such discrimination. The downside is
that the effects of the proposed solution will not manifest till later years,
as it may take time for the society to start accepting something that has been
detested for decades. Thus, although the solution is a long-term solution,
society must begin somewhere to reach the ultimate goal of allowing the freedom
of expression, even if that is through sexuality.
School:
To tap into the sources
of homophobia, it is important to begin at the source of information and social
interactions. One of the main foundations that develop one’s sense of morals
and ethics is school. This is particularly the case in Lebanon where the
majority of schools are administered by religious figures, such as priests,
creating a lasting enforcement of religious morals. From the first steps through
those colorful, cardboard filled, hallways to the last day of senior year, a
child is subjected to a vast amount of information. School moreover allows for
the first social interactions amongst the children, some of which are pivotal
in shaping one’s perspective and worldview. Faith states that “[t]he school
plays an important role in helping children learn to interact positively with
their peers and teachers. They learn about healthy relationship skills and
develop them further through interactions, both in the classroom and on the
playground” (2012, para. 3). As an attempt to reduce homophobia, and the
negative connotations that accompany the idea, the topic of homosexuality
should be introduced in schools. Faith further supports her claim by declaring
that “just as the school provides lessons on reading, writing and arithmetic,
from the very beginning it also focuses on helping kids learn about compassion,
respect, empathy and integrity” (2012, para. 4). The concept of homosexuality should
be openly discussed in classrooms and even portrayed in books if needed. By
presenting the students with interesting forms of education such as media, the
idea of homosexuality may be assimilated more easily and clearly. Teachers may
also work on exposing the students to the reality of the situation, not just
through generic books, to educate them about the normality of the concept. This
may create an accepting environment where the students might be able to feel
more acquainted with the idea, rather than it being something unspoken of and
shameful.
Additionally, it may be constructive to further promote
and implement anti-bullying regulations among various schools. Consequently not
only may students understand the significance of discrimination but this may
further construct a positive atmosphere in which one is not judged for who he/she
are or intend to be. This would allow the scholars, who are the future society
of Lebanon, to commence recognizing homosexuality as a norm, and therefore
reduce homophobia on the long term. However, the solution suggested above may
not be influential, or even accepted and imposed, among schools in Lebanon due
to the religious dominance that accompany them. This is one of the limitations
of this solution which can now be considered as a partial solution in which not
all schooling systems may be able to abide by these ideas and suggestions. Thus, this solution is directed at schools in
Lebanon that do not follow the traditional schooling system.
Media
Another
aspect that aids in shaping human judgment is media. As the era of technology
is now at full speed, access to media has never been easier. In her online
journal, Birungi Ives comments that “[t]hrough advertisement, media, social
marketing and our everyday purchases, these corporations touch our lives
profoundly. We are listening, watching and absorbing, whether we realize it or
not” (2017, para. 6). In Lebanon, media is strongly censored due to the main
influencing power, religion. Rarely does news close to the topic of
homosexuality air on Lebanese television, get published in Lebanese newspapers,
or get uploaded to online articles and databases. For example, a short film
named Wasp depicts a story of two homosexual men in a relationship going on
vacation in the South of France. During that time, one of the men becomes
attracted to a woman. This film was banned from airing in the Beirut
International Film Festival since it portrays acts related to homosexuality and
fluid sexuality (Haidar, 2015). The oppression of expression through art seen
in this example signifies the core dilemma of the Lebanese mentality, which
manifests in media. In addition, Lebanese television shows have rarely
introduced a homosexual character on any of their series. They have also
depicted a traditional love story between a man and a woman, scarcely even
touching upon the idea of homosexuality.
Hence, it is essential to begin decreasing the amount
of homophobia among Lebanon’s media by encouraging non-governmental related
social media accounts to start raising awareness and promoting the LGBT agenda.
Encouraging various users to begin posting pictures, articles, and simply news
about the major events occurring around the world that concern the LGBT
community may in turn reach the society rapidly. Since the government cannot
directly censor posts on social media, the people of Lebanon, fighting for the
rights of homosexuals, can use these social media platforms to enlighten the country.
Hopefully, if these individuals are active on social media and well committed
to the cause, the increased publicity will reach the Lebanese people and may
influence some members of the community. Just a minute portrayal of support
towards the LGBT community from various individuals may be able to form comfort
among the community. Although this solution is a small alteration, word spreads
quickly, especially through social media. A minority of people in Lebanon
believe in equality among society regardless of sexuality; however, a flame is
needed to spark faith into the community that it is possible for a change to occur
if they stood as one.
Interview with Helem NGO (Joe, 2017)
Helem wants to provide protection
for the LGBT community, it stands up for their rights and wants to ensure a
safe environment, despite the many barriers and obstacles that people of this
group face. There are many objectives: working legally on the intercourse that
they could have, and trying to ban words that could be offending or hurt their
feelings by raising awareness, and replacing them with more gentle words. The
impact of Helem has not just affected a national level, but has spread to a
larger scale: Helem has reached Beirut, Montreal, Paris, and set an example to
many organizations around the Arab region. One of the ideas Helem has been
trying to abolish is that HIV is an LGBT caused disease. Moreover, they have
conversed with many judges in 2009 and 2014 about sexuality not being a
disease, and about how homosexuals are criminals. This ‘pointing fingers’ to
homosexuals as criminals has “been an obstacle for LGBT people to apply for
jobs. Helem started in 1988 as a small platform that later aimed at protecting
homosexuals. Joe claims that people are becoming more accepting, and that
despite the large number of people in Lebanon that are still against freedom of
sexuality, many others are becoming more tolerant. Hate crimes are decreasing,
and this is due to the help from social media and movements in general. Joe
says that even though it is hard to convince parents that homosexuality is not
a disorder, we should keep trying to show parents the scientific theories and
explanations that it is not a disease. He also states that the best way to
introduce the subject is by raising awareness and giving facts about the
subject.
He says “by showing these people
that it is inevitable and that it is very prevalent nowadays, then why keep
denying it?” Further, he mentions that teaching homosexuals to stand up without
aggression and in a civil manner is a crucial step to be implemented since it
could help them to be more confident. Lastly, he declares that raising
awareness and increasing tolerance will lessen the amount of suicide rates,
crime rates, and amount of mental illnesses that homosexuals have.
Conclusion:
Homophobia
is a concern that is hard to overcome. It is kind of a cycle; homophobic people
intimidate homosexuals and homosexuals start to seek shelter through hiding,
making homophobic people see them less. The less they see homosexuals, the more
the repel increases. This is because the more one is exposed to something, the
more usual and acceptable it is till that person does not even realizes it is
there anymore. However, homophobia should come to an end. It should not be okay
to make people feel bad about themselves because of the gender they are
attracted to. Even though it is impossible to change laws, religions, and the
way people are raised, change can begin in media platforms and school
communities. Awareness needs to be raised and people need to be accepted for
who they are. Little by little the world can become a better and happier place.
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