Lebanon has a thriving and dynamic civil society where freedom of association is garneted and protected
Objective Number
01
Objective Name
Citizen
Objective Description
Guarantee equal rights and civic duties to all citizens
Vision Description
A Cohesive, Egalitarian, Diverse and Dynamic Society
Scope
LGBTQ are individuals with non normative sexualities and gender identities
Sexual orientation and gender identity are integral aspects of ourselves and should never lead to discrimination or abuse
Indicators
% of arrests of LGBTQ
Positive trend in acceptance by society
Rainbow Europe (Lebanon excluded)
Global Acceptance Index for LGBT people (Lebanon excluded)
Problem
Article 534 of the Lebanese Penal Code, prohibits having sexual relations that "contradict the laws of nature“, has been disproportionately used to prosecute LGBTQ people, and violence is used during investigations
Challenge
Public opinion and religious authorities strongly oppose freedom of gender identity
Structural constraints carrying the seeds of discrimination are rooted in laws, regulations and socio-cultural values
Public opinion is still very conservative: 79% of Lebanese believed that homosexuality should be rejected by society
Strong resistance by religious authorities to repeal Article 534
Existing Policy
A district court of appeal in Lebanon issued a groundbreaking ruling on July 12, 2018, that consensual sex between people of the same sex is not unlawful, in line with four similar judgments from lower courts between 2009 and 2017
Homosexuality was declassified as a mental illness
In March 2018, Kataeb party expressed support for the decriminalization of homosexuality and the repeal of Article 534
Policy Action
Repeal Article 534 of the Lebanese Penal Code
The Gay Pride is not censored
LGBTQ individuals are protected by the law, against violence, discrimination, stigmatization…
LGBTQ individuals enjoy full rights, equal to other citizens (same sex marriage, employment…)