Nov 06, 2007Quickie Link: Lebanese Gays Come out of Closet, But Quietly
By vanrozenheim
(Lebanon) - In some countries in the Arab world homosexuals can face the death penalty. But in Lebanon an association battles openly for the rights of Gays who may live freely but are still ostracised socially. "Beirut is a bubble of freedom for homosexuals," said Georges Azzi, coordinator for the Helem (Dream) Association, the Arab world's first Gay grouping. "Homosexuals have much more freedom and are more visible than in any other Arab state," he told AFP. Founded in 2004, Helem collaborates with the ministry of health to fight against the spread of the HIV virus that can cause AIDS and openly lobbies for the legal rights of homosexuals. Homosexuality is not specifically illegal in Lebanon, but Gays can be targeted under article 543 of the penal code which provides for prison terms of up to one year for sexual relations "against nature".
