Lebanon authorities block gay pride festival: organiser

Lebanon's LGBT festival, the only event of its kind in the Arab world, was suspended after authorities interrogated its organiser and threatened him with prosecution, he said Wednesday.

A gay pride flag is carried by human rights activists during an anti-homophobia rally in Beirut on April 30, 2013.

A gay pride flag is carried by human rights activists during an anti-homophobia rally in Beirut on April 30, 2013. Source: AFP

The second edition of Beirut Pride had started Saturday with a concert starring "Alsarah and the Nubatones", a band fronted by a Brooklyn-based Sudanese singer.

The week-long event was to include cultural events, talks and readings aimed at raising awareness, minus the extravagant parades held at Pride events elsewhere.
Alsarah and the Nubatones performed earlier in the week, as part of the festivities.
Alsarah and the Nubatones performed earlier in the week, as part of the festivities. Pictured: Alsarah performing in 2017. Source: Archive Photos
But Lebanon's General Security agency stopped a reading set for Monday evening and summoned festival organiser Hadi Damien for questioning, he said in a statement.

He was advised to "sign a pledge that assures the activities will not take place" in exchange for his release, he said.
The festival's remaining events, including poetry readings, a storytelling night and a talk on sexual health, were cancelled, the statement said.
Lebanon is generally more tolerant of its LGBT community than other Arab countries, but an event was also shut down during the first edition of Beirut Pride last year.

Activists in Beirut are at the forefront of efforts to tackle prejudice in the region, but continue to face discrimination both by state institutions and society.


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Published 17 May 2018 10:26am
Updated 17 May 2018 1:38pm
Source: AFP, SBS


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