Have A Very Queer Laïque Pride

‘We are Lebanese citizens seeking to live in dignity, exercise our rights and duties with equality when dealing with co-citizens.’

Over 2,000 people joined Laïque Pride (a secular walk towards citizenship) today in Beirut. After a gruesome civil war, Lebanon is still suffering from the backlashes of sectarianism. Today proved however, that the Lebanese have had enough of sectarianism tearing the country apart and want a real tangible change. For once, People in Lebanon peacefully marched in solidarity in order to prove to the Lebanese government and the International Community that a separation of Religion from the State is not only needed but desperately wanted too.

There were many blocks that went down to represent their ideologies and causes today. The two blocks that affected me the most was Nasawiya’s dancing and music filled group and the Queer Block. The feminists showed up in their usual bulk in order to yet again remind the world that they exist and they are not going anywhere fast. As usual, their impact was noticed and beautifully choreographed to add to the hustle and bustle that was ongoing, as well as supporting the cause.

The Queer Block on the other hand showed up with only 5 members and yet happened to make quite a storm. With a banner that read ‘A7rar El Jeness Ma3 El 3elmeniyeh’ (Queers for Secularism), the Queer Block marched along with the crowd chanting ‘Shou tayfte? Ma Khassak! Ma3 min bnem? Ma khassak’ (What’s Your Sect? None of Your Buisness! Who Do You Sleep With? None Of Your business) and other catchy phrases. In the middle of the crowd, two men who were participating with the Queer Block publicly kissed for all to see while holding the banner ‘Queers for Secularism’. The Block went on to hold a small dance session and marched until the crowd dwindled down.

Today, I am very proud to say that I was a part of that Queer Block. It was the most empowering experience of my life to hold up that banner and make a stand in front of all those people and remind them that we not only exist, but that we stand in solidarity with them in the fight for secularism. Get ready fellow queers, the Revolution has started.