User:HanaIverson/sandbox

Ally Organizations in the Middle East
Listed below are a few ally organizations that aim to help and support LGBT people in the Middle East. Other organizations with the same goal exist as well, however these are the organizations that have made the most impact in the regions thus far.

Rainbow street

Link: https://www.rainbow-street.org/

Rainbow street is a non-governmental organization (NGO) that is determined to help LGBT people in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region in any way they need. This includes, but is not limited to:


 * “working with local health providers to promote mental and physical health of local LGBT community members
 * to provide regular cash stipends to exceptionally vulnerable LGBT people to alleviate the challenges of homelessness, food insecurity, and other barriers to dignity and self-determination”

Outright Action International

Outright is a NGO that promotes human rights of LGBTIQ people around the world, including in the Middle East. The organization focuses more on Iraq, Iran, and Turkey, but also partners with other groups in the region in order to listen to local LGBTIQ activists, and advocate on their behalf at the United Nations.

Helem

Helem (Arabic: حلم‎) is a NGO based in Lebanon that has the main goal of annulling article 534 in Lebanon’s Penal Code which punishes “unnatural sexual intercourse”, most commonly used to target people that do not conform to society’s gender binary system. Helem’s other goals include making the Lebanese society more aware about the AIDS epidemic and other sexually transmitted diseases in the country, and advocating for the rights of Lebanese LGBT individuals. Helem also allows allies to access membership to the organization. 

LGBT Laws of Some Middle Eastern Countries
This section is by no means exhaustive, and does not cover ever particular law pertaining to LGBT rights. This is partly due to the non-existence of these laws in some Middle Eastern States, and also due to the laws being available in Arabic.

A large majority of the data in the following table originates from research study conducted by the Human Rights Watch, in which the laws regarding LGBT rights in the Middle East are referenced.

Violence and Discrimination against LGBT people in the Middle East
Due to the illegality and stigma around people who identify as LGBT, there is a dearth in the quantity of credible data collected regarding violence and discrimination that LGBT individuals face on a daily basis. However, a report written by Outright International submitted to UNHRC regarding violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in Iraq has fount that despite LGBT rights being protected by the law, there exists no feasible legal recourse for victims of such hate crimes.

Middle Eastern Public's Opinion about LGBT
Due to a rise in Islamic conservatism in the late 20th century in the region, any non-conforming sexual behavior is condescended, and incriminating in most countries, as previously stated. It is popularly believed that this opinion is shared only by government officials and religious men. However, a Pew Research Center survey conducted in 2018 disproved this when it was found that over 80% of people polled rejected homosexuality as "morally unacceptable". This is the only study conducted regarding the Middle Eastern public's opinion regarding anything related to LGBT behavior/ activities. In order to fully understand this, more data needs to be collected on the matter.