Helem and SIDC are organizing an HIV Awareness Booth at the Marathon Village between November 29 and December 2, 2006. Visit us between 12noon and 9pm to learn more about sexual health and to show your support. The Marathon Village is located in Port de Beyrouth. Look for Helem's stand and pass by for a visit!

The marathon village is open everyday from 12.00 pm to 9

This book has been a long time coming. Enough invisibility, enough denial.

Homophobia is something that permeates every aspect of our lives, sometimes in ways too subtle to detect, and other times with overt violence.

"Homophobia: Views and Positions" ((رهاب المثلية: مواقف وشهادات is a book that breaks the silence around this social ill, claiming loudly that it is not homosexuals that are deviant and in need of treatment, but homophobes themselves.

This book is the first of its kind in Arabic in the region, but we certainly hope it won't be the last. Bringing together some of Lebanon's most gifted writers as well as a host of local intellectuals and activists, Homophobia is a book that challenges and sparks much needed debate in our societies about the violence that gays, lesbians, and bisexuals face
and the silence that protects and condones it.

The International Conference of the 1st Montreal OutGames that took place between July 26-29, 2006, drawing over 2,000 LGBT activists and organizations from around the world, had invited Helem to take part in a keynote address for the plenary session entitled "Focus on Africa and the Arab World". Unfortunately, due to the Israeli siege and bombardment of Lebanon, the Helem member scheduled to speak at the plenary was unable to attend. Instead, she sent a short video message to be screened during her alloted time.

From 30 May to june 2nd 2006, Helem participated in United Nations General Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS (UNGASS) at the UN headquarters in New York City.

After the substantial local and international media attention Helem has received following its appearance on New TV’s interactive talk show Al Hal Bi Eeddak and its public event to mark the International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO) in May, it was expected that some backlash would occur from regressive and homophobic opponents of Helem's fight for the civil liberties of LGBT people.

We, non-governmental organizations and experts from 15 countries of the Middle East, North Africa and South/Southeast Asia , believe that the 2006 High Level Meeting on HIV/AIDS constitutes an occasion for reaffirming and enhancing the commitments made by our governments and the international community at the UNGASS 2001.

Wednesday May 17, 2006

IDAHO - Lebanon 2006
Hotel Monroe - Ain El Mreiseh

06.30 pm: Press Conference
07.30 pm: Screening of 5 short locally produced films about homophobia
09.30 pm: Discussion Session

AUB Women's Rights Club Presents: A Two Day Symposium on Gender and Sexuality
AUB

Celebrating the International Day against Homophobia (IDAHO)

Panel discussion with:

Iman Al Ghafari
Romy lynn Attieh (on behalf of Daniel Drennan)
Jared Mccormick

Moderated by: Rana Issa

West Hall Room 301
03:00 - 05:00 pm

You've seen it on roads and everywhere. SpringHints (آذار ربيع الأسئلة) is a questionnaire targeted at Lebanese citizens to know more about their views towards the political system and certain laws. The survey also tackles the subject of homosexuality.

You can visit SpringHints at www.springhints.org and fill in the survey yourself online.

The 23rd world conference of the International lesbian and gay association (ILGA), who fights for the recognition of LGBT rights in the whole world started last Thursday 30th of March, and will be held until Monday April 3rd at the international center of conferences of Geneva.

DUBAI: The United Arab Emirates has authorized its first non-governmental organization to begin work to enforce human rights in the Gulf state, said Al-Emirat Al-Yawm newspaper last week. Quoting a licensing decision issued by the Social Affairs Ministry, it said the Emirates Human Rights Association (EHRA) aimed to "respect and enforce human rights according to the state's laws and constitution."

"Raising awareness among individuals and clarifying their rights and duties towards society" are part of the association's aims, the ministry added.