Posts Tagged ‘Transgender’

Don’t let The Gays into my country!

Posted: May 2, 2013 in Human Rights
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#LebLGBT #DekAbuse

This will be my profile photo on Twitter and Facebook because:

I believe that all citizens should be treated equally regardless of their sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression.

I am outraged by the arbitrary arrests in Dekwaneh on Apr 21st 2013 where a transwoman and 3 men were detained, and subjected to verbal, physical and sexual abuse, their nude photos were taken by cell phones and sent to the media. The Mayor was present through all that and he then confesses to his crimes on national TV. All this is documented. No investigations or disciplinary measures were taken against the mayor by authorities.

I am disturbed by what our Minister of Interior has just announced: “Lebanon is against perversion (his chosen term for homosexuality), which is considered a crime according to Lebanese law. I wonder, now that France allowed same-sex marriage would we allow them to enter our country”. How could I be more knowledgeable about our laws than our Defence Minister. Article 534 of the Lebanese Penal Code penalize any sexual act “against nature” by up to one year in prison and has been historically used to criminalize homosexuality. In 2009, a Lebanese judge in Batroun ruled against the use of article 534 to prosecute homosexuals. He clearly flaunts his ignorance when he questions whether Lebanon should allow The Gays to enter our holy nation, as if the door has been closed and the recent achievements in France on the human rights front will open that door!!! I stand speechless.

I am encouraged to speak out because I know how many want to and how little support they have to do so.

This is an adaptation of the Lebanese flag. The red says “7okouk” Arabic for “Rights”. I also like how the two red bars form an Equal sign. I wish they could have added to the flag what would represent the rights of womyn, foreign workers and refugees, all of whom are also at risk to suffer similar brutality in our rotten system.

I will keep this photo till May 17 2013: The International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO)

بيان الجمعية الطبيّة اللبنانية للصحة الجنسية بعد أحداث الدكوانه

Posted: April 28, 2013 in Health, Human Rights, عربي
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Check out the English Version

بيان صادر عن الجمعية الطبيّة اللبنانية للصحة الجنسية 

هذا البيان من إعداد الهيئة الادارية للجمعية

د. رامي باز-  ريتا الحداد - عمر حرفوش - د. عمر فتال - د. حسن عبد الصمد

info@lebmash.org

  1. http://youtu.be/UXfb40nRazA
  2. https://now.mmedia.me/lb/en/reportsfeatures/transgender-club-victim-speaks-out
  3. http://youtu.be/AVcTrkZ4W2Y
  4. http://legal-agenda.com/article.php?id=356&folder=articles&lang=ar
  5. http://www.who.int/about/definition/en/print.html

LebMASH Press Release regarding the Dekwaneh Abuse Case

Posted: April 28, 2013 in Health, Human Rights
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Here is the Press Release by LebMASH (The Lebanese Medical Association for Sexual Health) regarding the Dekwaneh abuse case that I have previously blogged about.

For immediate release,

The Lebanese Medical Association for Sexual Health (LebMASH) strongly condemns the acts undertaken, based on orders from Mr. Shakhtoura, the Mayor of Dekwaneh on April 21st 2013. According to media reports1, personal accounts of victims2, and the mayor’s confession3 on national TV, individuals in Dekwaneh were targeted based on their perceived sexual orientation and gender identity. Three men and one transwoman were arrested and exposed to verbal, physical, and sexual abuse4.

We at LebMASH believe in the World Health Organization (WHO) definition5 of health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”

Societal oppression, discrimination, abuse, and homophobia/transphobia against members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community lead to a higher prevalence of psychological problems such as anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation and attempts, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and substance abuse. Such discrimination and abuse were apparent on April 21st, 2013.

The negative impact of this abuse extends beyond the individuals who were arrested. The abuse represents a threatening message sent to all LGBT individuals in Lebanon where many will fear becoming the next victim. Fear of persecution impacts one’s mental health negatively, especially in a country that still criminalizes “unnatural sexual acts” under Article 534 of the Lebanese Penal Code.

We, as health care providers and concerned citizens of Lebanon:

(1)   Call on our fellow healthcare professionals in Lebanon to speak up against these acts of abuse and their serious health consequences.

(2)   Call on the appropriate authorities to launch an immediate investigation into the events of April 21st, 2013. We insist that those who perpetuated the abuse are held accountable for their actions. We must ensure that they face appropriate legal consequences.

(3)   Call on the Lebanese parliament to eradicate the antiquated and unjust Article 534 of the Lebanese Penal Code.

The LebMASH Board - info@lebmash.org

  • Hasan Abdessamad, MD FRCSC FACOG – Obstetrician & Gynecologist
  • Rami Baz, MD – Pediatrician
  • Rita El-Haddad, BS – Psychology Doctoral Student
  • Omar Fattal, MD MPH – Psychiatrist
  • Omar Harfouch, BS – Medical Student

References:

  1. Raynbow YouTube: LBCI reports again on Dekwaneh arrest, closure of gay bar
  2. NOW News: Transgender club victim speaks out
  3. LBCI: اقفال احد ملاهي المثليين في الدكوانة
  4. Legal Agenda: فحوصات العار في الفضاء العام
  5. World Health Organization: WHO definition of Health

My response to Mayor of Dekwaneh abuses

Posted: April 25, 2013 in Human Rights
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Imagine you get a phone call from your sister telling you she was arrested on a night out and her nude photos are already circulating online.

Imagine your closeted best-friend, who fears for his life if his family knew about his sexuality, has his name publicly posted on the door of a recently shut down gay bar.

It can happen to anyone of us or the people we love and care about, so we shall not remain silent.

The Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation, LBC TV, asked the public to submit their response to the human right abuses committed by Dekwaneh Mayor Antoine Chakhtoura on April 21 2013. That night, Chakhtoura ordered a raid on Ghost Bar that caters for gay bisexual and transgender clientele. His forces carried illegal detention of people. Victims were dragged to the municipality building, where they were insulted, interrogated, forced to undress and their photos were taken. The bar was shut down few days later and the full names and date of births of 4 detained victims were posted on its door.

A tranwoman victim reported to NOW that she was verbally, physically and sexually abused.

“They hit me and pushed me around and insulted me by using derogatory terms like ‘faggot’ and ‘half-a-man,’ then they asked demeaning questions such as how much do I make per hour and whether I enjoy ‘sucking on it,’ then asked me to strip naked and then took photographs of me.”

Here are the responses that LBC chose to broadcast:

http://www.hidepark.tv/VideoPlayer.aspx?id=MjcxOQ==

Here is my response:

 

Here is the segment of the news reporting on the abuse.

 

The mayor has already confessed to his crime on national TV:

“Of course we made them take off their clothes, we saw a scandalous situation and we had to know what these people were. Is it a woman or a man? It turned out to be a half-woman and half-man and I do not accept this in my Dekwaneh.”

So this mayor believes he can enforce his set of morals on the whole population. He played police by arresting people and he played the doctor by subjecting them to a physical. He is neither. This is a fine example of abuse of power and should be exposed and stopped.

Lebanese Lawyer Mr. Nizar Saghieh told NOW that the municipal police’s detainment of customers is illegal and should be looked into because it is a clear violation of the constitution. He urged the civil society to address the abuses as quickly as possible if the subjects decide not to sue.

Outrage is evident on social media are posters denouncing the mayor’s abuses are sprouting:

Image

Mayor of Dekwaneh Antoine Chakhtoura responsible for sexual abuses and racism

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To learn more and follow this story as it unfolds, follow the Lebanese LGBT Media Monitor on Facebook and @LebLGBTmonitor on Twitter.

You can also follow hashtag #DekAbuse that was created for this incident.

The #LebLGBT hashtag is always handy to follow any news related to the Lebanese LGBT movement.

Stay strong. Speak up

GLMA’s 30th annual meeting witnesses Lebanon-MASH’s first

Posted: October 29, 2012 in Health, Human Rights
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This September I attended GLMA‘s 30th Annual Conference in San Francisco, California. It was as expected rich, eye-opening, insightful, motivational and educational. This year’s conference, hosted in the city “where it all began”, was the largest to-date with nearly 450 attendees and over 60 educational sessions distributed over 5 days and offering up to 19 CME (continuing medical education) credits.

As usual I was Tweeting and Facebooking live. Check my official Page‘s timeline for details (just scroll down to September 2012) or view photos from the event here.

During the conference, GLMA announced their new tag line. The Gay & Lesbian Medical Association will now be known as GLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBT Equality, or simply “GLMA”. ”The shift recognizes that all health professionals and our supporters have a role in improving the health and well-being of LGBT people and that GLMA is an organization that welcomes and serves everyone who shares in that belief” stated the post-conference newsletter.

This year six countries were represented including Canada and Lebanon. One Lebanese medical student was flown from Lebanon to attend this conference sponsored by a generous donation from two Lebanese physicians. This student along with 7 Lebanese physicians, including myself, convened on the side of GLMA to launch the Lebanese Medical Association for Sexual Health: Leb-MASH. I would like to thank GLMA president Dr. Desiray Bailey and executive director Dr. Hector Vargas for meeting with founding members to discuss potential  collaboration between GLMA and Leb-MASH. I will share more details about this ground-breaking organization once structuring matures and its work commences.

The Annual Conference in Numbers*• 445 Attendees
• 139 Speakers
• 46 Concurrent Workshops
• 23 Oral Research Presentations
• 18 Poster Research Presentations
• 9 Plenary Presentations
• 19 Credit Hours
• 19 Exhibitors
• 10 Formal Networking Events
• 36 States represented
• 6 Countries represented
• $13,000 raised for the Lesbian Health Fund*Source: GLMA Newsletter		  

“These are not just numbers though. They represent increased knowledge of LGBT health and better care for LGBT individuals. Participating in the 30th Annual Conference provided you with the latest in LGBT health information and the tools you need to make a difference in the lives of the LGBT individuals and families for whom you care” stated the post-conference newsletter. You can view the full program from the conference here.

As usual, the conference ends with GLMA’s signature event, the Gala Banquet & Achievement Awards Recognition. This year the gala was hosted at the Green Room in the San Francisco War Memorial. GLMA recognized and honoured six individuals and organizations for their outstanding contributions to the LGBT community and their exemplary commitment to improving the quality of health services for LGBT people. You can view a list of this year’s recipients and see photos from the evening by clicking here.

Next GLMA meeting is scheduled for September 18-21, 2013 in Denver, CO, USA. It will again host the second annual meeting for the Lebanese Medical Association for Sexual Health. If you or someone you know are interested in advancing the health of sexual minorities in Lebanon, or the sexual health of all Lebanese, I urge you to join GLMA’s 31st annual meeting and attend Leb-MASH’s second annual meeting. Be part of the change, get the tools to enable you to make a difference in the lives and health of many.

Gay & Lesbian Medical Association convene in Atlanta

Posted: November 17, 2011 in Health, Human Rights
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The 29th Annual Conference of the Gay & Lesbian Medical Association (GLMA)
Sept 21 – 25, 2011
Atlanta, Georgia, USA

I was one of 375 healthcare professionals from across the United States and Canada who converged in Atlanta for the 29th annual GLMA conference, Sept 21 – 25, at the W Hotel Midtown.

The conference aims at improving healthcare for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals. This is the largest such gathering of medical professionals in the world. With over 90 workshops and plenary sessions, this was one of GLMA’s largest Annual Conferences. Topics covered a broad spectrum of LGBT health issues. Attendees were updated  on most recent research and provided with tools to promote healthcare equality.

Besides the great educational value, the conference becomes an efficient networking tool. You strengthen old connections and create new ones. During a networking lunch, my friends Dr. Rami Baz, Dr. Brian Fitzsimmons and his partner Dr. Michael Farmer, and I shared the table with Dr. Matt Heinz, member of the House of Representatives in Arizona, and Dr. Desirey Bailey, president-elect for GLMA.

At the table, Dr. Heinz discussed his Lebanese heritage (his maternal grandfather comes from Dhour Shweir) and his experience as an openly gay politician in relatively conservative Arizona. On stage, he emphasized on the vital role physicians can play in policy making. He called upon other healthcare professionals to become politically active. Projecting from his personal experience, he believes in our potential as physicians to be essential catalysts for change. His speech was empowering.

The plenary session title “Encountering Ourselves and the Other: a Multi-faith Approach to Relational Centred Care” was intriguing. Judaism was represented by Rabbi Joshua Lesser, NHL (the organizer), Christianity by Reverend Laurie Robbins, MDiv, MA, and Buddhism by Pamela Ayo Yetunde. While the session was thought provoking and inspirational, it was disappointing to see Islam alienated. With the alarming growth of Islamophobia and further marginalization of this religious minority, it was essential to include Islam in the panel and throw a spotlight on the LGBT-affirming face of the Muslim faith.

Surgeon General Regina Benjamin spoke about the National Prevention Strategy and shared personal stories one of which highlighted her realization that cultural competency is imperative for healthcare providers. We also heard from Dr. Joycelyn Elders, the 15th Surgeon General under President Bill Clinton. I was actively tweeting their speeches that reflected the importance of reaching out to straight allies to better advance the cause.

This year’s achievement award winners included United States Representative John Lewis, Institute of Medicine (IOM), World Professional Association for Transgender Health, Atlanta Lesbian Health Initiative, Dr. C. Harris, and Harvard Medical School Kinsey Two-Sixers LGBT group.

The five-day meeting concluded with a fantastic Gala hosted by “fumerist” Kate Clinton at the famous Egyptian Ballroom of Atlanta’s “Fabulous Fox”. The historic Fox Theatre dazzled the crowd with its impressive mosque-like structure, minarets, onion domes, and an interior décor even more lavish than its façade.

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This multidisciplinary meeting is worth your time. If you are a physician or healthcare professional consider attending next year’s meeting in San Francisco, Sept. 2012.