{"id":10031,"date":"2018-04-29T10:29:39","date_gmt":"2018-04-29T04:44:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pahichan.com\/?p=10031"},"modified":"2018-04-29T10:29:39","modified_gmt":"2018-04-29T04:44:39","slug":"lebanon-lgbti-advocates-appeal-to-citizens-abroad-to-vote-for-change","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pahichan.com\/en\/lebanon-lgbti-advocates-appeal-to-citizens-abroad-to-vote-for-change\/","title":{"rendered":"Lebanon LGBTI advocates appeal to citizens abroad to vote for change"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Kathmandu (Pahichan) April 29 – Lebanon citizens living abroad can vote in their country’s forthcoming elections for the first time<\/h2>\n<\/header>\n
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A series of social media videos are encouraging people to vote for change in Lebanon.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Of all the countries in the Middle East, many regard Lebanon as more progressive in regards to LGBTI rights.<\/p>\n

Same-sex sexual activity is illegal under Penal Code 534. However, the code has rarely been enacted in the past ten years and LGBTI citizens are beginning to live more open lives.<\/p>\n

An underground Beirut Pride festival, consisting of a series of arts-based events, took place last year and will return again this year next month. Last month, trans inclusive feminists in the country\u00a0called for trans rights<\/a>\u00a0during an International Women\u2019s Day March.<\/p>\n

Now, some electoral candidates in the forthcoming 6 May elections are openly calling for the repeal of Penal Code 534.<\/p>\n

Arab Foundation for Freedoms and Equality<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The Arab Foundation for Freedoms and Equality (AFEMENA) has launched a\u00a0website<\/a>\u00a0listing all the Parliamentarian Candidates. Where known, it indicates if they support or oppose advancing LGBTI rights.<\/p>\n

To coincide with the website, social media videos appeared yesterday. The first one, below, is aimed at Lebanon citizens living abroad. They will be able to remotely cast a vote in the elections for the first time.<\/p>\n