Are LGBT rights finally starting to improve in the Middle East?

[Chickens in Malibu 7,873]

The Middle East/Arab/Islamic countries are some of the worst places for gay people at the moment. In some countries like Saudi Arabia, gay people are sentenced to death. But this summer, there may be an indication of something revolutionary taking place. Tunisia may soon become the first arab country to legalize homosexuality.

https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/tunisian-presidential-committee-recommends-decriminalizing-homosexuality-n883726

Although this is great news, it's still yet unclear whether other arab countries will follow suit. Tunisia has been the most progressive arab country, where men and women are pretty much equal and abortion is legal etc... But we can definitely see more middle eastern/north african countries follow suit like Morocco and Lebanon hopefully! 

I really feel bad for people living in those countries. I can't imagine their pain.

[lordgagx 5,467]

Lebanon has decriminalized homosexuality weeks ago.

https://www.hrw.org/news/2018/07/19/lebanon-same-sex-relations-not-illegal

[Moebius 8,965]

"Rights" arent the problem; its public opinion. Just because my rights are protected where I live doesnt mean someone wont kill me if they knew.

[Chickens in Malibu 7,873]

1 hour ago, lordgagx said:

Lebanon has decriminalized homosexuality weeks ago.

https://www.hrw.org/news/2018/07/19/lebanon-same-sex-relations-not-illegal

Apparently, not quite yet but soon hopefully. Unfortunately Courts in those countries don't work like in the U.S (in the sense that the Supreme Court can legalize same-sex marriage and the government can do nothing about it). It means the government can continue to prosecute gays and the courts would judge based on a case-by-case basis or something, at least according to this:

"It was a very progressive ruling, [stating] that the government has no business in people’s private lives,” Azzi said. “Other courts could still convict people, but we’re very hopeful – we’re seeing that the trend now is not to criminalize homosexuality.”

But along with Tunisia, it definitely shows a trend that middle east is moving towards more LGBT rights.. fingers crossed!

[nerdfacekillah 4,618]

this is so great to hear. this hate towards LGBT community must stop all over the world. 

this news actually reminded me the fact that my first date and my first kiss was with a guy from tunisian origin

[VOLANTIS 16,502]

1 minute ago, Moebius said:

"Rights" arent the problem; its public opinion. Just because my rights are protected where I live doesnt mean someone will kill me if they knew.

I agree. And this applies to everywhere in the world. So in a form it's a struggle the world is facing all together unlike the middle east which is struggling to keep up with the basic senses of human rights. 

I wish love and peace to all the gay kids in Middle East and I hope I'd see some form of joy for them in my lifetime.  Go Tunisia! Go progress! 

[Peace 1,588]

If you just witness the hate against homosexual ppl in middle east you'll realize that there is a very long road for homosexuals to be accepted as normal human beings like in west. I can say at least more than 20 years.I am saying this while i'm fully experiencing this issue in Iran.

[Chickens in Malibu 7,873]

57 minutes ago, Musicer said:

If you just witness the hate against homosexual ppl in middle east you'll realize that there is a very long road for homosexuals to be accepted as normal human beings like in west. I can say at least more than 20 years.I am saying this while i'm fully experiencing this issue in Iran.

Honestly, I think it's just a matter of time. It's like domino effect. Some brave middle eastern country must be the first to do such thing and cope with the backlash, and then other countries will follow suit. But at least it's showing that at least Tunisia and Lebanon are headed in that direction. 

[Peace 1,588]

1 minute ago, nicolasrumet said:

Honestly, I think it's just a matter of time. It's like domino effect. Some brave middle eastern country must be the first to do such thing and cope with the backlash, and then other countries will follow suit. But at least it's showing that at least Tunisia and Lebanon are headed in that direction. 

I agree, ultimately homosexuality is going to be ok worldwide in coming future years, but Middle East is the final wagon of this acceptance train and sadly positive things are happening here so slowly.

[joanoflark 3,824]

Well this is not entirely true. I am from Morocco and homosexuality is very far from being legalized there. What is changing and what makes me a little bit at ease with how shitty things are in the countries of the third world, is that the Western world is finally starting to care about us, women and LGBTQ people of the other side of the world. I think this is one the ways that things can change, due to globalization and the four corners of the world becoming closely connected. I hope we stay relevant enough for us to be put on a map as a community that exists and that needs their rights approved. This makes me very sad though, because while in other countries "Love Is Winning", in other countries you can't even be gay withour fearing imprisonment, violence or death.

[ARTPOP2 3,948]

3 minutes ago, lordgagx said:

Lebanon has decriminalized homosexuality weeks ago.

https://www.hrw.org/news/2018/07/19/lebanon-same-sex-relations-not-illegal

Homosexuality was never technically criminal in Lebanon. Article 534 of criminal law criminalizes "unatural sexual acts". On the basis of this article many LGBT people were porsecuted. But, like the case you mentioned here, some judges will say that hamosexuality is not unatural so doesn't really violate the criminal code. That's the case here and a case that happened in 2014. But these ruling are made by district courts ao they aren't really universal to all citizens. Article 534 should be removed from the criminal code by the parliament in order to say it was truly and universally decriminalized. But it's more complicated since religion plays a big part in Lebanese politics. So even if Article 534 were removed, LGBT people will still be porsecuted because of the religious influence on the state and the courts. Like a monthe or so ago, pride month activities were canceled, even though the organizers had all the permits they needed, because of a religious group pressuring the state to cancel it and threatening with violence. So yeah, a pretty liberal country but very patriarchal and homophobic religiously-led society

[ARTPOP2 3,948]

18 minutes ago, lordgagx said:

Lebanon has decriminalized homosexuality weeks ago.

https://www.hrw.org/news/2018/07/19/lebanon-same-sex-relations-not-illegal

 

Just now, ARTPOP2 said:

Homosexuality was never technically criminal in Lebanon. Article 534 of criminal law criminalizes "unatural sexual acts"...

Mess you're lebanese and probably knew all of this  kteer cute kamen 

[Economy 52,839]

19 minutes ago, Moebius said:

"Rights" arent the problem; its public opinion. Just because my rights are protected where I live doesnt mean someone will kill me if they knew.

It's a problem too. If a place mostly supported gays socially but the law still wasn't updated it's still just as much of an issue for you

[Moebius 8,965]

12 minutes ago, Economy said:

It's a problem too. If a place mostly supported gays socially but the law still wasn't updated it's still just as much of an issue for you

But the people wouldnt let you go through that through protests. You can be deemed not guilty in court and still get shot from the public afterwards.

[thatfoxyfeeling 13,401]

It’s always going to be a problem when religion is so predominant in the Middle East.