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Homo-friendly or Homophobic?

Homophobic or homo-friendly
Homophobes Hall of Shame and Homophiles Hall of Fame

On Sept. 1, 2010 the Lebanese LGBT Media Monitor launched this "Homo-friendly or Homophobic" project to categorize Lebanese and Arab celebrities based on their attitudes towards and positions on homosexuality.

Please note that this list is not engraved in stone. Labels will change with any new evidence of change in attitudes or position of the celebrities. The Monitor will do its best to always provide the evidence that supports our labeling. If you have any questions, concerns, or suggestions of new celebrities to add to the list we are always happy to read from you at raynbow.org@gmail.com


Patricia El-Hashem:
She is a Lebanese journalist and editor of Bisara7a online entertainment magazine. Patricia El-Hashem deserves the title "Homophobe" after her magazine recently published a homophobic article on Oct. 3rd 2010. The article uses homophobic slurs and dares to ask Lebanese homosexuals to immigrate in order to cleanse the country. You can click here to read the article in Arabic.


Nidal Al Ahmadiye: Queen of Homophobia
Lebanese journalist and editor of Al-Jaras magazine, Nidal Alahmadiye, deserves the title of the "Queen of Homophobia" after her recent deliberate homophobic attacks through Al-Jaras magazine on LGBT individuals, tourism and night life. After condemning Lebanese homosexuals as Zionists and throwing serious accusations that can be life-threatening to some citizens, M. Ahmadieh interviewed the man who claims to be responsible for the closing of LGBT-frequented night club, Acid. She reaches out to the Lebanese government to close all LGBT establishments in order to "clean Beirut". Read the full article by Al-Jaras magazine written by reporter Diana Wehbe at the Lebanese LGBT Media Monitor: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3. Read this response by Bekhsoos.


Fares Karam: Homophobic
This Lebanese singer earned this title for his music video clip Neswanji (Womanizer) in which he literally says “May God send diseases to anyone who is not sexually attracted to women” (Yalli ma y7ib el niswan, allah yib3atlo 3illi). The same song is also very demeaning, demoralizing and objectifying for women. Listen to the song. Here is his Facebook Fan Page if you would like to take action.


Yehya Saade: Homo-friendly
This Lebanese music video director (nominated for the Murex Dor as the Best Director 2010) answered that he supports gay rights and all personal liberties when asked “Are homosexuals on your agenda?” Check out his response in this video from an interview on Rotana Music TV. Also read ”Gay Rights in Lebanon” article that talks about Mr. Saade. This is a less accurate and homophobic article about that interview. Click here for a summary about Mr. Saade’s work. Visit his Facebook Fan Page to thank him for his support.


Hamed Sinno: Homo-friendly
This Lebanese singer received significant attention and applause from the LGBT community after he proudly carried and displayed a rainbow flag on stage during a concert for Mashrou3 Leila in Byblos festival 2010. Check out this article, these photos, this video, and this video. Mr. Hamed Sinno was also the artist behind the mysterious pro-gay graffiti that invaded the walls of Hamra, Beirut in 2008. He clarifies his motives and explains the consequences in this YouTube video. The stencils received international attention. Listen to “Gay Community Thrives in Lebanon”, an interview that NPR (USA) had with Mr. Sinno. His band, Mashrou3 Leila, portrayed a cross dresser in the video clip of “Fasateen”.


Nancy Ajram: Homo-friendly
This Lebanese singer included a gay character in Seher Ouyouno video clip. This was regarded as a progressive move and a much needed change in our mainstream media. The LGBT community applauded the expressed tolerance. The singer brought the same character again in her sequel video clip Lawn Ouyounak.


Malek Maktabi: Homophobic
He is a Lebanese presenter whose talk show on the Lebanese satellite TV channel LBC has sparked an outrage among the Lebanese and Arab LGBT community after a poorly researched episode on homosexuality that contributed to further propagation of inaccurate information and deepening the crisis of homophobia in the region.
For more info, check out this article in Menassat.


Nadine Labaki: Homo-friendly
She is a Lebanese actress and director. Her award-winning film “Caramel” (2007) had a positive portrayal of two lesbian characters. She also directed Nancy Ajram's Seher Ouyouno and Lawn Ouyounak with a normative portrayal of a gay character.
Check out one scene of the two lesbian characters.


Joanna Moukarzel: Homo-friendly
This Lebanese actress played the role of Rima, the lesbian character in the award-winning Lebanese movie “Caramel” (2007).
“Luckily, the only positive character is the lesbian character. The cutting of hair as freedom, the sexual awakening. She is portrayed in a positive way, without stereotypes , without explanations as to why and how ! It is all in the looks and the strokes of hands, in the brush of a hair and the running water, and amongst all the women, Rima seems to be the only free one and for a moment in the end , she offers that freedom to the one she loves through the cutting of the hair.” By the Lebanese lesbian group Meem.


Jad Shwery: Homo-friendly
As simple as it can be, this Lebanese singer/director showed his support to homosexuals in the talk show "Blsen Mou3aridik", saying: "I'm not gay but I support homosexuals".
For more info check out this article by GayMaroc.com


Haifa Wehbi: Homo-friendly
No official position on homosexuality was issued from the Lebanese diva in any talk show. Yet, the gay icon was spotted partying at a gay bar in Istanbul, so she can't be homophobic I guess…
For more info check out this article by Beiruter.com


Ward El Khal: Homophobic
After what sounded like a positive comment on "7adis al Balad": homosexuality is a fact and we have to accept it (al mithliya 2amer wake3 wbadna netkabalo), the Lebanese actress's comments during the first episode of MTV's "Bel Hawa Sawa" in Aug. 2010 sparked significant anger in the LGBT community. She referred to homosexuality as "perversion" (shouzouz), and drew the line of morality at playing the role of a lesbian "I don't have a problem acting any role but homosexuality- no!" (ma 3ende mechkle 2ade 7ayala dor bas el chozouz la2!). Her comments led to an invasion of her fan page by angry LGBT people and their non-LGBT allies and granted her the "Homophobe of the Month" on Bekhsoos magazine.
For more info, check out the actual episode on MTV


Wissam Breidy: Homo-friendly
This label was chosen for MTV's Lebanese presenter Mr. Breidy after he issued a public apology and a clarification of what he meant by using the term "perversion" (chouzouz) in the first episode of Bel Hawa Sawa. By that he avoided the backlash that actress Ward El Khal received after insisting on referring to homosexuality as "perversion" (chouzouz esmo chouzouz).
Check out Mr. Breidy's apology on MTV's Bel Hawa Sawa Facebook fan page.


Carole Samaha: Homo-friendly
The Lebanese singer endorsed diversity and acceptance of the other in Ma Bkhaf video clip that portrayed people from all walks of life including a gay and a lesbian couple. Her support to the LGBT community was applauded by Bekhsoos.


Maria: Homophobic
Lebanese-Armenian performer Maria Nalbandian announced that she likes acting complex roles like Lesbian roles. Nevertheless she considered that "Lesbians are expanding more and more in the Arab world and that this should be shown on TV to make people aware of this danger".
For more info check out this article by Lebanonhur.com


Amal Hijazi: Homophobic
Lebanese Singer Amal Hijazi was "accused" of homosexuality after appearing in a clip wearing a T-shirt with a logo of an LGBT brand. She later claimed she was not aware what the logo represents. "I'm a conservative girl and I would never do anything that goes against my beliefs and against God." She later scratched the LGBT signs off her T-shirt.
For more info check out this article by All-patch.org


Nada Abu Farhat: Homo-friendly
This Lebanese actress played the role of Lina, a positive portrayal of a lesbian character in the Lebanese drama series “Sarah” on MTV.
Check out this review by Bekhsoos.


Claudia Marchalian: Homo-friendly
This Lebanese writer's attitude towards homosexuality is clearly reflected through her positive portrayal of a lesbian charater, Lina, in her drama series “Sarah” aired on MTV.
Check out this review by Bekhsoos.



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