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Beirut Pride
Beirut Pride (Arabic: فخر بيروت, romanized: Fakhr Bayrūt) is the annual non-profit LGBTQIA+ event and march held in Beirut, the capital of Lebanon. Established with the mission to advocate for the decriminalization of homosexuality within Lebanon, the event serves as a platform for fostering visibility, acceptance, and equality for the queer community in the region.
Since its establishment in 2017, Beirut Pride has stood as the Arab world's pioneering and singular LGBTQIA+ pride event, marking the largest gathering within the LGBTQIA+ community in the Arab world. The inaugural event attracted 4,000 attendees, and the momentum continued into the 2018 edition, drawing 2,700 participants in its initial three days. However, authorities intervened, leading to the arrest of its founder, Hadi Damien.
The subsequent day, the Beirut prosecutor intervened by suspending the planned activities and initiating criminal proceedings against Damien for orchestrating events deemed to "incite debauchery." Despite this setback, Beirut Pride persisted, with its third edition unfolding in September/October 2019. The fourth edition adapted to the evolving circumstances, transitioning to an online format in 2020. This shift was prompted by both COVID-19 restrictions and the economic turmoil engulfing Beirut, necessitating participation in the online Global Pride celebration.
The burgeoning global progress in the realm of LGBTQIA+ rights catalyzed Hadi Damien, then 28 years old, to initiate the groundwork for Beirut Pride in August 2016. Damien embarked on a collaborative journey by recognizing the necessity for a comprehensive communication platform spanning multiple days, languages, and engaging with the universal language of creativity.
The inaugural edition of Beirut Pride unfolded from May 14 to 21, 2017, strategically aligning with the International Day Against Homophobia.
Additionally, legal seminars provided insights while the unveiling of three specially designed t-shirts by Bashar Assaf and Marwan Kaabour added a creative flair. The festivities extended into the nightlife of Mar Mikhaël, where eighteen bars proudly displayed rainbow flags, culminating in a spirited drag show and celebratory party. Initially planned as a march on May 21, enthusiasm necessitated a relocation to a mountainside venue overlooking the Mediterranean. Notably, several embassies prominently displayed rainbow flags in solidarity with Beirut Pride.
This edition faced challenged when NGOs Proud Lebanon and Helem encountered a boycott campaign initiated by certain organisations urging authorities to halt their respective events. Both organisations had organised full conference days featuring performances, discussions, and screenings. However, Proud Lebanon's hotel reservation was abruptly canceled, prompting Helem to transform its event into a closed conference streamed on social media. This strategic shift aimed to mitigate the risk of potential violence and safeguard the safety of attendees and Lebanese society at large.
The second edition of Beirut Pride was scheduled for May 12–20, 2018. It started with a brunch in honor of the parents who did not kick their LGBT children from the family house because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. The opening party brought 800 persons who sang and cheered to the performance of Lebanese singer and dancer Khansa, acclaimed Sudanese Brooklyn-based music band "Alsarah and the Nubatones", and danced to the disco music until the early morning hours. A Sunday brunch at the independent art incubator "Haven for Artists" featured a talk about trans-identity, followed by a talk with migrant workers about masculinity and femininity, before the massive Beirut Grand Ball. Additionally, Beirut Pride announced the Corporate Pledge project it was developing: a policy for corporations not to discriminate against staff and clients based on their sexuality and identity. Moreover, performances, talks, a gender-fluid fashion show and parties were programmed, a podcast and a magazine were ready to be launched. However, on the third night, Monday, May 14, 2018, Beirut Pride was raided following the dissemination of a homophobic, sensational, fabricated programme that was attributed to Beirut Pride. The police arrested the organiser of Beirut Pride, and despite the interrogation proving the falsity of the accusations, the general prosecutor of Beirut ordered the suspension of the scheduled activities before initiating criminal proceedings against Hadi Damien for organizing events "that incite to debauchery".
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Beirut Pride AI simulator
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Beirut Pride
Beirut Pride (Arabic: فخر بيروت, romanized: Fakhr Bayrūt) is the annual non-profit LGBTQIA+ event and march held in Beirut, the capital of Lebanon. Established with the mission to advocate for the decriminalization of homosexuality within Lebanon, the event serves as a platform for fostering visibility, acceptance, and equality for the queer community in the region.
Since its establishment in 2017, Beirut Pride has stood as the Arab world's pioneering and singular LGBTQIA+ pride event, marking the largest gathering within the LGBTQIA+ community in the Arab world. The inaugural event attracted 4,000 attendees, and the momentum continued into the 2018 edition, drawing 2,700 participants in its initial three days. However, authorities intervened, leading to the arrest of its founder, Hadi Damien.
The subsequent day, the Beirut prosecutor intervened by suspending the planned activities and initiating criminal proceedings against Damien for orchestrating events deemed to "incite debauchery." Despite this setback, Beirut Pride persisted, with its third edition unfolding in September/October 2019. The fourth edition adapted to the evolving circumstances, transitioning to an online format in 2020. This shift was prompted by both COVID-19 restrictions and the economic turmoil engulfing Beirut, necessitating participation in the online Global Pride celebration.
The burgeoning global progress in the realm of LGBTQIA+ rights catalyzed Hadi Damien, then 28 years old, to initiate the groundwork for Beirut Pride in August 2016. Damien embarked on a collaborative journey by recognizing the necessity for a comprehensive communication platform spanning multiple days, languages, and engaging with the universal language of creativity.
The inaugural edition of Beirut Pride unfolded from May 14 to 21, 2017, strategically aligning with the International Day Against Homophobia.
Additionally, legal seminars provided insights while the unveiling of three specially designed t-shirts by Bashar Assaf and Marwan Kaabour added a creative flair. The festivities extended into the nightlife of Mar Mikhaël, where eighteen bars proudly displayed rainbow flags, culminating in a spirited drag show and celebratory party. Initially planned as a march on May 21, enthusiasm necessitated a relocation to a mountainside venue overlooking the Mediterranean. Notably, several embassies prominently displayed rainbow flags in solidarity with Beirut Pride.
This edition faced challenged when NGOs Proud Lebanon and Helem encountered a boycott campaign initiated by certain organisations urging authorities to halt their respective events. Both organisations had organised full conference days featuring performances, discussions, and screenings. However, Proud Lebanon's hotel reservation was abruptly canceled, prompting Helem to transform its event into a closed conference streamed on social media. This strategic shift aimed to mitigate the risk of potential violence and safeguard the safety of attendees and Lebanese society at large.
The second edition of Beirut Pride was scheduled for May 12–20, 2018. It started with a brunch in honor of the parents who did not kick their LGBT children from the family house because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. The opening party brought 800 persons who sang and cheered to the performance of Lebanese singer and dancer Khansa, acclaimed Sudanese Brooklyn-based music band "Alsarah and the Nubatones", and danced to the disco music until the early morning hours. A Sunday brunch at the independent art incubator "Haven for Artists" featured a talk about trans-identity, followed by a talk with migrant workers about masculinity and femininity, before the massive Beirut Grand Ball. Additionally, Beirut Pride announced the Corporate Pledge project it was developing: a policy for corporations not to discriminate against staff and clients based on their sexuality and identity. Moreover, performances, talks, a gender-fluid fashion show and parties were programmed, a podcast and a magazine were ready to be launched. However, on the third night, Monday, May 14, 2018, Beirut Pride was raided following the dissemination of a homophobic, sensational, fabricated programme that was attributed to Beirut Pride. The police arrested the organiser of Beirut Pride, and despite the interrogation proving the falsity of the accusations, the general prosecutor of Beirut ordered the suspension of the scheduled activities before initiating criminal proceedings against Hadi Damien for organizing events "that incite to debauchery".