Let’s talk LGBTQ+: Pride Month 2021

What is LGBTQ+ Pride Month?

LGBTQ + Pride Month is the positive stance against discrimination and violence towards LGBTQ+ people.

This month, June, is dedicated to promoting equal rights and celebrating sexual diversity and gender difference. Pride, as opposed to shame and social stigma.

How is Pride celebrated?

LGBTQ+ Pride Month celebrations include marches, parties, concerts, workshops across the world.

Pride commemorates the years of fighting for civil rights and the ongoing pursuit of equal justice under the law LGBTQ+ Community, as well as the accomplishments of LGBTQ+ individuals.

SIDC celebrates this month each year as it works with LGBTQ+ individuals by supporting their rights in Lebanon.

Moreover, SIDC always supports the LGBTQ+ community in Lebanon by advocating for their rights and empowering them to face all kinds of adversities and providing them with support services including healthcare, legal, and economic and shelter services.

Pride is important!

Celebrating pride is meaningful because it continues to provide LGBTQ+ community with a safe space, and the opportunity to celebrate who they are and love without any shame. Additionally, there is still much progress to be made, and Pride is a way in which we can highlight LGBTQ+ struggles and injustices around the world.

There are still 69 countries that have laws criminalizing homosexuality, and the queer people in these countries need us to continue fighting for their right to exist. The same case when we talk about the Article 534 of the Lebanese Penal Code, which prohibits having sexual relations that are “contradicting the laws of nature”, which is punishable by up to a year in prison. As a practical matter, enforcement of the law had been varied and often occurred occasional police arrests.

“To the world, you’ve been greatly cruel, but I forgive.” – Sarah Hejazi, a lesbian activist