the arab spring uprisings, while initially promising increased freedoms, ultimately saw these gains eroded in many countries, particularly for the lgbt community. however, a silver lining emerged: the uprisings spurred many lgbt individuals to become activists, equipping them with new mobilization and alliance-building skills.
dalia abdel hameed from the egyptian initiative for personal rights (eipr) noted that following the revolution, egyptian activists, including those working with lgbt groups and leftist political organizations, began discussing gender and sexuality more openly within a human rights framework.
one egyptian gay activist explained how the arab spring personally impacted them.
"the arab spring? it produced me. i was involved in lgbt groups since [year], but they were always afraid to do much. from [year], when mubarak was ousted, it was like there was nothing called a mountain, there was nothing that could not be destroyed."
this newfound freedom led to the formation of several lgbt groups.
"then i started doing oral histories and found there were six or seven lgbt groups founded in [year]," the activist added.
mala badi, a moroccan transgender activist, described how the arab spring emboldened her. "when i first came out to myself as trans, friends advised me to keep my identity hidden.
then the arab spring hit our shores. i felt as if i had been born again."
despite this increased activism, lgbt rights demands are often ignored by governments in the region. the organization of islamic cooperation (oic), comprising all the states discussed in this report, has consistently opposed international recognition of lgbt rights.
this opposition has manifested in various ways, including oic member states walking out of a un human rights council discussion on abuses related to sexual orientation and gender identity in [year], bloc voting against un resolutions addressing sogi-based violence and discrimination, and refusing to cooperate with the un independent expert on sexual orientation and gender identity.
the impact of armed conflict
armed conflicts present significant obstacles to any activism dealing with sensitive issues.
the breakdown of institutions can lead to vigilante violence and punishment based on personal prejudices, disregarding the rule of law.
violent extremist groups have specifically targeted gay men, transgender women, and gender non-conforming individuals in several middle eastern countries.
isis, for example, publicly claimed responsibility for killing people accused of being gay or gender non-conforming in iraq, syria, and libya.
reportedly, isis executed at least 23 people in iraq, 16 in syria, two in border areas between iraq and syria, and three in libya for alleged sodomy as of june [year].
the lack of government action against these killings targeted young people who didn't conform to societal norms, including, but not limited to, lgbt individuals.
despite iraq not criminalizing same-sex conduct and forming an lgbt committee in [year] to educate government officials about sexual orientation and gender identity, the government failed to prevent these killings.
religious and political leaders, including grand ayatollah ali al-sistani and moqtada al-sadr, condemned the violence, with sadr reiterating his stance against anti-lgbt violence in [year].
in libya, the absence of a strong central authority has allowed militias to operate with impunity.
these militias have reportedly arrested, beaten, and arbitrarily detained men suspected of being gay.
the conflicts in iraq, syria, yemen, and libya have created hundreds of thousands of refugees and internally displaced people, including lgbt individuals who face unique vulnerabilities and needs.
lgbt activists who are refugees themselves face uncertainty about their futures, limiting their ability to engage in activism.
however, violence in conflict zones is not the only threat to lgbt people.
in countries where people are arrested based on their perceived sexual orientation or gender identity, security forces have been known to use torture and beatings.
victims have recounted to human rights watch that forced anal exams are both physically painful and psychologically traumatizing, often experienced as sexual assault.
egypt continues to use forced anal exams despite international condemnation.
lgbt individuals across the middle east also face the threat of violence from ordinary citizens. human rights watch has documented such violence in kuwait, where transgender women are sexually assaulted with impunity; in morocco, where people perceived to be gay or transgender have been subjected to mob violence; and in iraq, where gay men have reported severe beatings and death threats from their own families.
social pressures and family dynamics
in much of the middle east, lgbt people face intense social pressure to remain closeted.
even when immediate family members are aware and accepting, they often urge lgbt individuals to conceal their sexual orientation or gender identity from extended family, the community, or the general public.
this pressure to remain closeted creates challenges for self-acceptance, community-building, and movement-building.
activists who provide support networks for lgbt people, including abuse victims, may experience pride in their identities and work, but are constantly reminded that their pride is not universally shared, even by loved ones.
some activists cannot discuss their lgbt activism with their families at all, while others who are out may find that their work is not understood or valued, leading to depression and burnout.
in morocco, authorities exploit family dynamics to intimidate activists.
as one moroccan activist explained, "they do this to all kinds of human rights activists, but it has a different impact on lgbt activists because it can out them to their families. they use the family as a tool of repression."
activism is often most effective when it has a public face, but social stigma deters lgbt activists in many middle eastern countries from becoming public figures, even where they don't fear arrest or violence.
those who have come out publicly in traditional or social media have often faced severe online harassment, expulsion from school, or family rejection.
kali, a magazine in jordan that provides positive coverage of lgbt issues, described the challenges of coming out in [year].
the gulf countries are particularly silent on issues of sexual orientation and gender identity.
lebanese activists involved in regional activism reported being unaware of any active lgbt activist groups in bahrain, kuwait, oman, qatar, saudi arabia, or yemen.
a bahraini gay man living in lebanon offered this analysis: "through much of the region, though, lgbt activists are challenging the roles that have been dictated to them.
the world may be a stage, but they are writing their own parts."
crackdowns and resistance
in [year], the egyptian government launched a severe crackdown on lgbt people following a concert where a rainbow flag was raised. this was an audacious act in a country known for its oppression of lgbt individuals.
activists were caught off guard by the severity of the repression.
the arrests were part of a broader crackdown on civil society, reminiscent of the queen boat arrests in [year], when 52 men and a young boy were prosecuted in a mass crackdown on homosexual conduct.
while lgbt egyptians and their allies felt demoralized, there were also significant differences compared to the queen boat arrests.
in [year], no major egyptian human rights organization was willing to defend the detainees. however, in [year], egyptian and regional activists mobilized 50 organizations, mostly lgbt rights organizations from the middle east and north africa, to issue a statement opposing arbitrary arrests based on presumed sexual orientation or gender identity.
these actions reflect a significant shift in the region.
in [year], a defined lgbt rights movement was virtually nonexistent in most arabic-speaking countries. in [year], dozens of lgbt organizations operate throughout the region, addressing issues like homophobic and transphobic violence, decriminalization, forced anal testing, legal aid, hiv prevention, gender equality, media training, digital security, and arts outreach.
this organizing is still in its early stages.
club free, an underground group established in lebanon from [year] to [year], focused on empowerment and networking among trusted lgbtiq individuals, eventually evolving into the organization helem.
where there is active police harassment of lgbt activists, simply maintaining operations is an act of resistance.
for example, an egyptian activist acknowledged that lgbt rights organizations have had to scale back their ambitious goals after the january uprising.
activists in the region are now better equipped to handle setbacks and maintain their efforts than they were in the past.
they network, share strategies, and support each other. regional networks provide a lifeline to many activists, especially those who are isolated or under attack.
one activist described a regional meeting: "it was amazing to interact with them and see how similar our struggles were." in [year], activists formed the arab foundation for freedoms and equality, a beirut-based regional organization that conducts capacity-building workshops, hosts an annual conference, provides fiscal sponsorship, and helps coordinate emergency support for activists at risk.
building community and safe spaces
the first step in developing an lgbt activist movement is often building community.
in jordan, a group of lgbt individuals organizes regular film screenings focusing on sexual orientation and gender identity, providing arabic subtitles for films that lack them.
the group partners with an lgbt-friendly sexual health center, offering hiv testing after screenings.
building community also occurs online. an organization in cairo is creating oral histories of lgbt people in egypt and neighboring countries, primarily to affirm and connect with other lgbt individuals who may feel isolated.
in libya, where a gay activist knew of only a few other lgbt rights activists, the internet is considered the safest place to build community.
safe spaces are crucial for lgbt people facing violence, threats, eviction, or family rejection.
activists in egypt have focused on providing physical security and shelter for those rejected by their families or otherwise at risk.
however, the risk of arrest for groups of lgbt people living together, especially after the september rainbow flag incident, makes establishing formal shelters challenging.
in countries where arrests are frequent on charges related to sexual orientation or gender identity, legal education is vital for staying safe.
mistrust within communities, stemming from fear of infiltration, also poses organizational challenges. police monitoring and entrapment on dating apps and social media platforms are common in egypt.
organizations have provided workshops for transgender egyptians on how to stay safe online, emphasizing the risks associated with personal photos on phones.
a kuwaiti activist eventually fled the country after repeated arrests related to their gender identity but continued to provide virtual support to lgbt people and atheists in kuwait.
in baghdad, where lgbt groups lack a public presence due to safety concerns, partnerships with other human rights organizations are essential for their work.
building alliances and advocating for change
activists across the region emphasize that building alliances with feminist and human rights organizations requires effort and flexibility on all sides.
a moroccan activist stated that lgbt groups strive to build alliances by supporting other causes.
her organization participates in the collective for individual freedoms, a coalition of 37 groups focused on decriminalizing same-sex conduct and advancing feminist causes.
an activist in jordan highlighted the need for patience and understanding of limitations when working with civil society organizations. cases of violence, especially against transgender individuals, tend to attract more public support from mainstream organizations.
al qaws in palestine launched a successful campaign to combat homophobic bullying, reaching a large audience on social media.
rashed, a transgender man in jordan, initially driven by the need for better healthcare, approached local authorities in his town to request treatment and support for transgender people, including hormone therapy.
he and his friend developed a plan to use theater for awareness, leading rashed to create a one-man show portraying his experiences as a trans man.
he explained, "we were afraid of the first reaction."
kali, a magazine covering lgbt issues, was launched as a project of lgbt-identified students to address the lack of positive representation in the media.
the founders were shocked by the public backlash to their initiative, which also aimed to connect lgbt individuals with legal support and resources.
kali initially published in english but later released its first arabic language edition, further provoking negative reactions and leading to the magazine's eviction from its office.
it subsequently relaunched on a more secure platform in both arabic and english.
elsewhere in the region, activists are exploring the potential of the arts to raise awareness and promote understanding. activists also strive to achieve objective portrayals of lgbt issues in the media.
some iraqi activists are focusing on training media professionals to improve reporting on lgbt rights.
a member of akaliyat in morocco reported progress in media sensitization after targeted outreach. however, in egypt, the government actively tries to block positive media coverage of lgbt issues.
the supreme council on media regulation issued an order prohibiting egyptian media from expressing positive viewpoints on lgbt rights, threatening recent progress in media coverage.
in oman, state media regulators forced a newspaper to apologize for suggesting tolerance of homosexuality and suspended a radio station for interviewing a gay omani.
social media has provided alternative channels for lgbt activists to disseminate their messages, though the reach is often narrower than through traditional media.
alqaws in palestine released a series of videos challenging anti-lgbtq stereotypes and homophobic bullying, receiving widespread positive feedback.
in countries where homophobic and transphobic violence receives limited media attention, social media provides a platform to inform the public about these issues.
public outcry on social media can lead to positive outcomes, such as the release of wrongfully arrested victims of violence.
some individuals use social media to publicly come out, though this entails significant risks. an omani activist, abdullah al busaidi, uses social media to share his life as a gay refugee in germany, hoping to reach both the general public and closeted lgbt people in oman.
repressive governments attempt to control social media and the internet, similar to their control over traditional media.
creative approaches are needed to reach the public in contexts where speaking out publicly is unsafe.
several organizations throughout the region are engaging directly with community leaders to promote understanding of lgbt issues. in algeria, an activist has been working to sensitize psychologists about lgbt identities, creating a network of lgbt-friendly psychologists.
collaborations between governments and activists working with men who have sex with men (msm) on hiv prevention and treatment have often been the starting point for broader discussions of lgbt rights.
in lebanon, discussions about lgbt rights grew out of conversations about the hiv crisis. while lebanon has since progressed, hiv remains a gateway issue elsewhere in the region.
some agencies directly work with msm communities to ensure that prevention and treatment efforts reach them.
sidc, a beirut-based organization, conducts regional trainings on hiv prevention and treatment among msm, targeting government health workers, hoping to spark discussion on lgbt sexual health, even in gulf countries.
activism to advance lgbt rights does not follow a specific sequence, and strategies vary by country.
it often involves strengthening lgbt communities, establishing security protocols, building support from civil society and key allies, and raising public awareness before challenging discriminatory laws and policies.
decriminalization and policy changes
decriminalizing same-sex conduct is a major goal for many lgbt activists in the region.
in the meantime, steps can be taken to limit human rights abuses. activists are challenging abusive policies and practices in several countries.
in lebanon, after a mass arrest of 36 men subjected to anal exams in [year], helem, in partnership with legal agenda, organized protests, leading the lebanese order of physicians to call for an end to the procedure.
the justice minister subsequently issued a directive to end the exams completely.
in tunisia, high-profile cases involving forced anal exams in [year] garnered attention from lgbt activists and the human rights community. activists have also used the universal periodic review (upr) to elicit commitments from their governments regarding lgbti rights.
even when governments reject specific recommendations, they may use language that opens doors.
for example, after the 2014 upr of iraq, several organizations made recommendations related to addressing violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. tunisia formally accepted a recommendation to end forced anal exams in [year].
the committee against torture condemned the use of such exams in tunisia in [year].
inspired by this, the egyptian initiative for personal rights plans to engage with the un committee against torture.
in [year], the african commission on human and peoples' rights adopted a resolution on protection against violence and other human rights violations against persons on the basis of their real or imputed sexual orientation or gender identity.
afe intends to continue engaging with the african commission on the rights of lgbt people throughout the region.