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LGBT Rights in the Middle East

History

Specifically, in Iran, it was common for men to be intimate without being in a formal relationship. Young men without facial hair were considered beautiful and older men would pursue them. It was not until the nineteenth century, when Europeans began to visit Iran, that the view of homosexual male relationships became negative. European men claimed the relations between Iranian men were immoral. This European perspective was widely adopted by Iranian society. (NAJMABADI, AFSANEH. Women with Mustaches and Men without Beards: Gender and Sexual Anxieties of Iranian Modernity. University of California Press, 2005.) This outlook on queerness within the Middle East has worsened as totalitarian governments, beginning in the 1970's, came to power and justified their values on Islamic fundamentalism. (El Feki, Shereen. "The Arab Bed Spring? Sexual Rights in Troubled times across the Middle East and North Africa." Reproductive Health Matters 23, no. 46 (2015): 38-44.) Homosexuality was outlawed in 1943, in Lebanon, to conform under the rule of the Vichy regime of France. The law is known as article 543 in the country's Penal Code. (Makarem, Ghassan. "The Story of HELEM." Journal of Middle East Women's Studies 7, no. 3 (2011): 98-112. Accessed December 11, 2020. doi:10.2979/jmiddeastwomstud.7.3.98.)

Transgenders have also faced backlash in the Middle East in the late 1900's. There was fear that because one could not differentiate men and women based on their outer appearance, it would cause instability within society. Gender reaffirming surgeries were introduced and became accessible and prevalent among transgender women in Iran. In 1976, The Medical Council of Iran outlawed gender reassignment surgery after seeing the increase of procedures among transgender women. However, they have changed this ruling since then. (Najmabadi, Afsaneh. Forthcoming. Reading transsexuality in “gay” Tehran (around 1979). In The Transgender Studies Reader: Volume 2, eds. Susan Stryker and Aren Aizura. New York: Routledge, 2013.)

Before globalization, Middle Eastern men nor women considered themselves to be homosexual despite having homosexual relations. Due to the exchanges between the West and Middle East, the ideas of "homosexuality" was introduced to Middle Eastern regions and these people were then encouraged to associate themselves with new labels, such as "gay," "lesbian," "straight," and more. Before the use of these labels, people did not categorize themselves as there is a spectrum of sexuality present within Middle Eastern society. (Massad, Joseph Andoni. "Re-Orienting Desire: The Gay International and the Arab World." Public Culture 14, no. 2 (2002): 361-385. muse.jhu.edu/article/26284.)

Regional LGBTQ NGOs and Solidarity Groups

Helem

The name is an acronym for Himaya Lubnaniya lil Mithliyeen wal Mithliyat, which translates to "Lebanese protection for gays and lesbians." The acronym itself means "dream." It was established in the early 2000's. (Makarem, Ghassan. "The Story of HELEM." Journal of Middle East Women's Studies 7, no. 3 (2011): 98-112. Accessed December 11, 2020. doi:10.2979/jmiddeastwomstud.7.3.98.)

Public Opinion

Those who do identify with the LGBTQ community live in hiding due to the fear of backlash and punishment. While some are comfortable to attend LGBTQ themed events, many will wear masks to cover their identities. Thus, it is unclear how many are in support of LGBTQ rights. (Tomen, Bihter. "Pembe Caretta: LGBT Rights Claiming in Antalya, Turkey." Journal of Middle East Women's Studies 14, no. 2 (2018): 255-258. muse.jhu.edu/article/701194.)