User:Patty24/LGBT rights in the Middle East

Same Sex Relationships Between Women

Souhaq is a derogatory term used in Lebanon that describes sex between women. The term was used by the Lebanese government in a proposed new version of Section 534 in the Lebanese Penal Code.

Rainbow Street

Rainbow Street is a non-governmental organization (NGO) that is determined to help LGBT people in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region by providing support to those who experience systemic oppression and persecution due to their gender identity and/or sexual orientation. The organization aims to provide queer and trans people with the necessary resources needed to ensure they have access to safe, discrete and capable providers. Rainbow Street's mission and plan of action includes:

• improving society's understanding of the experience of LGBT people within MENA
• engaging with the local community to provide support for LGBT people
• embracing all queer and trans people who are seeking help regardless of their national origin
• ensuring US imperialism does not impact the lives of queer and trans in MENA

• "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"

In an effort to improve social power and promote equality for LGBT people around the world, Rainbow Street fosters relationships between local, regional and international groups. The organization's goal is to ensure queer and trans people have access to community, resources and are able to live safe and healthy lives without being invisible.

OutRight Action International

OutRight is a NGO that promotes human rights of LGBT 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 LGBT activists, and advocate on their behalf at the United Nations. The partnerships include organizations in Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Libya, Morocco, Kuwait, Oman and Lebanon. The organization works with these groups on "different topics through capacity building, advocacy, research and holistic security." The largest project that they have is in Iran which is focused on assistance to the LGBT community in Iran. In order to counter prejudiced views in the media, provide necessary legal and religious frameworks that promote tolerance and in an effort to make their research accessible OutRight Action International created a wide range of resources in Persian.

OutRight has a significant program in the organization called LBQ Connect which aims provide for support for "lesbian, bisexual and queer activism around the world." Due to the marginalization of women who identify as queer, bisexual or lesbian as well as trans and nonbinary people, the organization centers these people in their framework in effort to provide support and resources. OutRight seeks to challange prejudice, violence and discrimination experienced by those who identify as LGBT throughout the world and providing these individuals with training and monetary resources to strengthen their skills and improve research. The research conducted influences changes in the LBQ program and overall advocacy agenda of the organization.

Helem

Helem (Arabic: حلم) is a NGO based in Lebanon, established in the 2000s, that has the main goal of annulling article 534 in Lebanon's Penal Code which punishes "unnatural sexual intercourse", particularly sexual relations involve anal sex . The organization was the first of its kind within the Arab World. Helem is an acronym for Himaya Lubnaniya lil Mithliyeen wal Mithliyat, which translates to "Lebanese protection for gays and lesbians." The acronym itself means "dream". The Penal Code is most commonly used to target people that do not conform to society's gender binary system. Individuals who express gender non-conformity are punished not only through the Penal Code but also in the interest of maintaining public morality. Helem's other goals include making 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. Although Helem was started to address the rights of the LGBT Community it has incorporated social work into the organization's mission. The organization advocates for marginalized communities throughout Lebanon and the Arab World. Helem seeks to "work not only on issues related to identity and civil/political rights, but also prioritize social and economic rights by leveraging law, development, and community mobilization as tools for equality and liberation."

The focus on marginalized communities sparked outrage throughout Lebanon when Helem invited people who weren't of Lebanese nationality into the organization during the Cedar Revolution. Helem supports and advocates for domestic workers and refugees including those who have left their home countries in fear of discrimination due to their sexual orientation. In 2006, Helem joined Samidoun, to continue their work of advocating for refugees and those affected by war. In May 2005, Helem held its first international day against homophobia (IDAHO). The organization has faced scrutiny and obstacles from the government and members of the community whilst trying to carry out their mission. A longstanding belief throughout the community is that HELEM is trying to impose Western imperialism and ideals in Lebanon and throughout the Arab World.

Majal

Majal is a NGO in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) that was established in Bahrain in 2016 and it focuses on "amplifying underrepresented voices." Majal "translates to opportunity or to give away" in Arabic. The organization centers the rights of different marginalized groups throughout MENA including the LGBT community. Majal provides various platforms that focus on distributing information, resources and having community led discussion to highlight the experiences of marginalized groups. Ahwaa is a platform on Majal that provides LGBT people in MENA a digital space to have discussions through game mechanics. The space uses avatars that protects users from disclosing their identities in an effort to reduce discrimination and persecution and to promote conversations regarding gender identity and sexual orientation. When users exhibit positive contributions and are supported by their peers, they gain more access to the platform. This system protects users from individuals that are using the platform to cause harm to others.

hyperlink and source for Majal.

References

Al-Samman, Hanadi. “Out of the Closet: Representation of Homosexuals and Lesbians in Modern Arabic Literature.” Journal of Arabic Literature 39, no. 2 (2008): 270–310. http://www.jstor.org/stable/25597977.

Hadeed, Khalid. “HOMOSEXUALITY AND EPISTEMIC CLOSURE IN MODERN ARABIC LITERATURE.” International Journal of Middle East Studies 45, no. 2 (2013): 271–91. http://www.jstor.org/stable/43302995.

Dalacoura, Katerina. “Homosexuality as Cultural Battleground in the Middle East: Culture and Postcolonial International Theory.” Third World Quarterly 35, no. 7 (2014): 1290–1306. http://www.jstor.org/stable/24522176.

Makarem, Ghassan. “The Story of HELEM.” Journal of Middle East women’s studies 7, no. 3 (2011): 98–112.  

Walsh-Haines, Grant. “The Egyptian Blogosphere: Policing Gender and Sexuality and the Consequences for Queer Emancipation.” Journal of Middle East women’s studies 8, no. 3 (2012): 41–62.

Waites, Matthew. “Analysing Sexualities in the Shadow of War: Islam in Iran, the West and the Work of Reimagining Human Rights.” Sexualities 11, no. 1-2 (2008): 64–73.

Habib, Samar. “Deconstructing Sexuality in the Middle East (review).” Journal of Middle East Women’s Studies. Durham: Duke University Press, 2011.

Blackmer, Corinne E. “Pinkwashing.” Israel studies (Bloomington, Ind.) 24, no. 2 (2019): 171–181.