Bombs and Bigotry: Lebanon’s LGBT+ community faces dual exodus

By Isaac J. Martin

Beirut, Oct 28 (EFE).— Israel’s bombing forced Karine from her home, but Lebanon’s entrenched prejudice turned her escape into a journey from the frying pan into the fire, making sheltering an urgent and complex challenge for LGBT+ people.

As a cisgender woman in Lebanon’s LGBTI+ community, she faced a «dangerous» situation of potential harassment and abuse. Fortunately, the NGO Helem provided a safe shelter for her, as a standard collective shelter would have exposed her to harassment.

“If I had gone to a normal shelter, despite their purpose of helping those in need, the stigma against LGBT+ people is intense. I would have faced harassment, abuse, or worse, especially given my presentation,» Karine, who asked to remain anonymous to protect her identity, told EFE.

Lebanon now hosts over 1,100 shelters for approximately 1.2 million displaced people since Israel’s bombing campaign began on Sep. 23, followed by the ground invasion of southern Lebanon.

“I never imagined fleeing my home with hardly anything, feeling completely desperate. Being a cisgender woman and part of the LGBTI+ community makes me particularly vulnerable after my home was destroyed,” she said.

Fleeing Persecution Alongside War

Growing up in a place where people like her are labeled as “sinful” and “abnormal,” Karine highlights the dual crisis faced by her community. «We are not only escaping war, we are fleeing hatred and persecution. No one should have to choose between safety and living as their true selves,» she asserted.

While Lebanon is one of the few Middle Eastern nations with a visible LGBTI+ community, it still enforces laws criminalizing «unnatural» relationships.

Such laws are often used to target vulnerable groups, including trans individuals. Activists have campaigned to abolish this colonial-era statute, which can result in up to one year in prison for consensual same-sex relationships deemed “against the natural order.”

“I hope more can be done to support our community by creating safe spaces and resources,” Karine said.

Inclusive Shelters for a Community at Risk

Karine is one of around 60 LGBTI+ people currently housed across three safe centers in Lebanon established by Helem, the Arab world’s first LGBTI+ rights organization, founded 24 years ago in Beirut.

Doumit Azzi, Helem’s communications coordinator, said the organization has had to pivot rapidly to respond to the Israeli offensive, prioritizing emergency shelter and aid for displaced LGBTI+ people.

Helem distributes aid packages to individuals in both safe shelters and private residences to help them survive the crisis, addressing medical needs such as hormone therapy when possible, and referring cases to other organizations when necessary.

In standard shelters, visibly queer people often encounter harassment and discrimination, so Helem saw a critical need for inclusive, queer-friendly spaces,

Azzi said they faced “compounded discrimination.”

“The war has intensified risks for LGBTI+ people who are often outside traditional family structures, making them doubly or triply vulnerable.”

Helem has urged anyone in the LGBTI+ community who feels unsafe in conventional shelters to contact them. «I know many aren’t as fortunate as I am, and the need for more safe spaces and resources is urgent,» Karine said. EFE

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