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Two members of Meem recently
completed a 22-page entry on LGBT issues in Lebanon for
the Greenwood Encyclopedia of LGBT Issues Worldwide. The
project includes chapters on homosexuality around the
world: politics, religion, lifestyles, identities,
organizations, health, and other topics. The Lebanese
entry discussed a general overview of Lebanon, a history
of the gay rights movement, and reactions to
homosexuality from different social angles. Here is an
excerpt from the section on lesbians:
“Lesbianism is generally seen to be more “tolerable” in
Lebanon than male homosexuality, partly because of the
eroticism surrounding the idea of two women together and
partly because women are simply so marginalized that
lesbians are dismissed as sexually frustrated women who
want to maintain their virginity and therefore
“practice” sexual play with other women. This tolerance,
however, masks multiple layers of discrimination that
lesbian and bisexual women face in Lebanon.
(...)
Butch
women are seen to be imitating male behavior, attire,
and ambitions because it is natural for one to want to
be like men, who are superior in everything. The term
“ikht el rjel” (tr. the sister of men) is commonly used
to describe a woman with a strong personality, strong
physique, or butch qualities, and is considered a
compliment. The term “Hassan sabi” is the Arabic
equivalent of Tomboy, similarly not a derogatory term,
and used to described young girls who have short hair,
dress like boys, play sports, or behave in other ways
traditionally attributed to the male gender.”
The full report will
be available online on
www.meemgroup.org soon. |
