Regions  ▸  Asia  ▸  Lebanon

LGBT Rights in El Béqaa
Province

💬 Join Equaldex's LGBTQ+ Discord to discuss LGBT rights and chat!

Public Opinion

El Béqaa is lacking public opinion data.

Help expand our understanding of the public's view on LGBTQ+ issues in El Béqaa by sharing a link to a survey from a reputable organization.

Suggest Public Opinion Data

Have you lived in or visited El Béqaa?

Share your experience of being LGBTQ+ in El Béqaa.

Take Survey

History

Homosexual activity in El Béqaa

?

Homosexual activity in El Béqaa is male illegal, female legal.

Current status
Since Mar 1, 1943
Male illegal, female legal
Article 534 of the Lebanese Penal Code prohibits sexual relations that “contradict the laws of nature”. While the law has been used to penalize homosexuality, it has been successfully challenged in court several times with defendants being acquitted and enforcement is rare. Several courts have also declined to prosecute. Currently, no national law has been passed to repeal Article 534, decriminalize homosexual activity, or clarify the position of the law.
Details
Sources:
www.humandignitytrust.org/c…
www.wionews.com/world/amid-…
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_…
www.hrw.org/news/2018/07/19…
today.lorientlejour.com/art…
www.state.gov/reports/2023-… - Section 6.6, paragraph 1
Report error  ·  Log

Same-sex marriage in El Béqaa

?

Same-sex marriage in El Béqaa is banned.

Current status
Banned
In Lebanon, only religious marriages are permitted. 15 separate family laws are in force in Lebanon and are administered by separate religious courts.

The country does not recognize same-sex marriage or any other form of legal partnership for same-sex couples.
Details
Sources:
learningpartnership.org/res…
www.hrw.org/news/2023/02/07…
Report error  ·  Log

Censorship of LGBT issues in El Béqaa

?

Censorship of LGBT issues in El Béqaa is ambiguous.

Current status
Ambiguous
The Lebanese government has vowed to shut down LGBT organizations, while several films have been banned in the country for LGBT content. Although it is not explicitly illegal to promote homosexuality as many LGBT night clubs and bars exist in the country.
Details
Sources:
www.google.com/amp/s/www.vo…
www.latimes.com/entertainme…
Report error  ·  Log

Right to change legal gender in El Béqaa

?

Right to change legal gender in El Béqaa is legal, but requires surgery.

Current status
Since Jan 2016
Legal, but requires surgery
As well as requiring gender reassignment surgery, they must also be unmarried and not have children.
Details
Sources:
www.pinknews.co.uk/2016/01/…
Report error  ·  Log
Until Jan 2016
Illegal
Until 2016, trans people had no ability to change their legal gender in Lebanon. In 1992, a civil court even stated that allowing such would lead to a "disturbance in the fabric of the society".
Details
Sources:
www.hrw.org/news/2022/04/08…
Report error  ·  Log

Gender-affirming care in El Béqaa

?

Gender-affirming care in El Béqaa is legal.

Current status
Legal
Unlike most Middle Eastern countries, there are no legal restrictions on gender affirming care in Lebanon and any treatment with it is considered lawful provided the recipient consents to it.

The main constraints are the lack of availability as trans Lebanese have to go through private institutions as the government does not offer such services. It is often quite costly with it only getting worse due to recent economic crises.
Details
Sources:
cairo52.com/countries/Lebanon/
Report error  ·  Log

Legal recognition of non-binary gender in El Béqaa

?

Legal recognition of non-binary gender in El Béqaa is not legally recognized.

Current status
Not legally recognized
Lebanon provides no legal gender recognition to nonbinary people and the process for such only gives the options of male and female.
Details
Sources:
www.aljazeera.com/indepth/f…
Report error  ·  Log

LGBT discrimination in El Béqaa

?

LGBT discrimination in El Béqaa is no protections.

Current status
No protections
No protections from discrimination.
Details
Sources:
www.state.gov/reports/2020-…
Report error  ·  Log

LGBT employment discrimination in El Béqaa

?

LGBT employment discrimination in El Béqaa is no protections.

Current status
No protections
No protections.
Details
Sources:
www.state.gov/reports/2020-…
Report error  ·  Log

LGBT housing discrimination in El Béqaa

?

LGBT housing discrimination in El Béqaa is no protections.

Current status
No protections
There are no protections from discrimination in housing provided to LGBTIQ+ people in Lebanon.
Details
Sources:
www.state.gov/reports/2023-…
Report error  ·  Log

Same-sex adoption in El Béqaa

?

Same-sex adoption in El Béqaa is single only.

Current status
Single only
Both married and single individuals may adopt in Lebanon. However, Lebanon does not recognize same-sex marriage.
Details
Sources:
ilga.org/downloads/ILGA_Wor… (page 328)

travel.state.gov/content/tr…
Report error  ·  Log

Intersex infant surgery in El Béqaa

?

Intersex infant surgery in El Béqaa is unknown.

Current status
Unknown

Serving openly in military in El Béqaa

?

Serving openly in military in El Béqaa is don't ask, don't tell.

Current status
Since Mar 30, 2019
Don't Ask, Don't Tell
In 2019 a military tribunal acquited four personnel who accused of sodomy. The judge ruled that the law does not specify what acts are "contrary to nature". They were however dismissed from their posts.
Details
Sources:
www.aljazeera.com/news/2019…
Report error  ·  Log

Blood donations by MSMs in El Béqaa

?

Blood donations by MSMs in El Béqaa is banned (indefinite deferral).

Current status
Banned (indefinite deferral)
Any man who has had sexual contact with another man ever is banned from donating blood.
Details
Sources:
www.moph.gov.lb/userfiles/f…
Report error  ·  Log

Conversion therapy in El Béqaa

?

Conversion therapy in El Béqaa is not banned.

Current status
Since Jan 1, 2013
Not banned
Homosexuality was declassified as an illness in 2013.
The Lebanese Psychiatric Society, the Lebanese Psychological Association, other professional associations and NGOs have called for banning conversion therapy. To date, it is still legal.
Details
Sources:
www.pinknews.co.uk/2013/07/…
Report error  ·  Log

Equal age of consent in El Béqaa

?

Equal age of consent in El Béqaa is n/a.

Current status
Since 2013
N/A
Homosexuality is not legal in Lebanon as of 2023
Details
Sources:
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_…
Report error  ·  Log
Equality Index ?
19 / 100
Legal Rights
19 / 100
This region's Equality Index is based on legal rights alone. Please submit survey results that show the public opinion of LGBTQ+ issues in El Béqaa to help improve its accuracy.

Top Contributors

El Béqaa LGBT Organizations

There are no organizations listed in El Béqaa. Suggest one

Share Region

Compare El Béqaa

19

Compare with
Loubnâne ech Chemâli, Lebanon

19

Compare with
Aakkar, Lebanon

19

Compare with
Nabatîyé, Lebanon

19

Compare with
Beirut, Lebanon

19

Compare with
Jabal Loubnâne, Lebanon

19

Compare with
Loubnâne ej Jnoûbi, Lebanon

19

Compare with
Baalbek-Hermel, Lebanon

Alternative names: Bekaa

LGBT Rights in

19

LGBT Rights in
Loubnâne ech Chemâli

19

LGBT Rights in
Aakkar

19

LGBT Rights in
Nabatîyé

19

LGBT Rights in
Beirut

19

LGBT Rights in
Jabal Loubnâne

19

LGBT Rights in
Loubnâne ej Jnoûbi

19

LGBT Rights in
Baalbek-Hermel