News
Latest News
news bulletin
Breaking Headlines
Israel-Gaza War Updates
Variety and Tech
Sports News
Middle East News
World News
Lebanon News
Press Highlights
Lebanon Economy
News Bulletin Reports
Other News
Breaking Headlines
Israel-Gaza War Updates
Variety and Tech
Sports News
Middle East News
World News
Lebanon News
Press Highlights
Lebanon Economy
News Bulletin Reports
Beirut
19
o
Bekaa
15
o
Keserwan
19
o
Metn
19
o
Mount Lebanon
15
o
North
18
o
South
18
o
Live
Video
Audio
Schedule
shows
العربية
watching now
Crystal
SUBSCRIBE
Home
Notification
Live
Video
Audio
shows
Beirut
19
o
Bekaa
15
o
Keserwan
19
o
Metn
19
o
Mount Lebanon
15
o
North
18
o
South
18
o
News
Programs
The News
Breaking Headlines
Israel-Gaza War Updates
Variety and Tech
Sports News
Middle East News
World News
Lebanon News
Press Highlights
Lebanon Economy
News Bulletin Reports
Programs
Series
Movies
Documentaries
Variety
Comedy
Talk Show
News Bulletin
Sports
Breaking News
Latest News
Highlighted News
Most Read
Videos
العربية
Watch the latest programs and the latest developments on your favorite screen
Shows
Join millions of followers
Who We Are
Contact Us
Advertise With Us
Careers
Channel frequencies
Privacy Policy
Terms and Conditions
Lebanese Culture Minister introduces controversial law against "sexual deviancy" promotion
Lebanon News
16-08-2023 | 08:40
High views
Share
Share
3
min
Lebanese Culture Minister introduces controversial law against "sexual deviancy" promotion
Lebanese Culture Minister, Judge Mohammad Wissam Mourtada, has introduced a divisive law targeting the promotion of what is termed "sexual deviancy", encompassing homosexuality and gender transitions. This comes in the wake of recent legislation proposed to decriminalize homosexuality, signaling the country's deepening cultural and legislative fissures over LGBTQ rights.
In July 2023, a significant stride towards progressiveness was made as MPs Mark Daou, Najat Aoun, Paula Yacoubian, Camille Chamoun, Cynthia Zarazir, George Okais, Adib Abdel Massih, Nada Boustani, and Elias Hankash, co-sponsored a draft law to decriminalize homosexuality in Lebanon.
This proposal garnered considerable political backing, with Change and Independent MPs, Lebanese Forces, Free Patriotic Movement, and the Kataeb party throwing their weight behind it. However, the situation took a turn when MP Adib Abdel Massih withdrew his support, succumbing to rising pressures.
Culture Minister Mourtada, who led the backlash against the proposal, has now launched this new legislation, which many view as a reactionary countermeasure.
In the backdrop of these legislative volleys, anti-LGBT sentiments in Lebanon have seen a significant uptick. Mourtada has emerged as the main driving force behind this wave. Notably, in a demonstration of his stringent stance, he recently called for a ban on the movie "Barbie" in Lebanese cinemas, which many have interpreted as an extension of his broader campaign against perceived "Western influences."
The contents of Mourtada's draft, beyond the broad brushstrokes of opposing LGBTQ rights, entail potential penalties for acts promoting or endorsing homosexuality and the idea of gender transition. Offenders, if the law is passed, might face up to three years in prison or be slapped with a fine of LBP 500 million.
Mourtada, in justifying his proposal, invokes the teachings of major religions, emphasizing the importance of adhering to traditional values, which both Christianity and Islam uphold. He also aligns his stance with religious leaders, like Cardinal Béchara Boutros Raï, emphasizing the significance of preserving the traditional family structure.
However, as this polarizing debate continues, human rights advocates and several civil society activists are mobilizing. They argue that Mourtada's proposal, if ratified, could dramatically reverse the nation's trajectory, moving away from its historically diverse and pluralistic ethos.
As both legislative proposals jostle for dominance, the international community, alongside Lebanon's citizenry, watches closely. With the fate of LGBTQ rights hanging in the balance, the next moves by Lebanon's lawmakers will be under intense scrutiny.
Lebanon News
Lebanon
Culture
Minister
Mohammad Wissam Mourtada
Promotion
Sexual
Deviancy
Homosexuality
Gender
Transitions
LGBTQ
Next
Israeli army claims striking Hezbollah arms depot in South Lebanon (Video)
Recommended For You
d-none hideMe
0
News Bulletin Reports
13:14
Israel eyes deeper Lebanon incursions: Israeli report calls Lebanese Army's response a 'game-changer'
News Bulletin Reports
13:14
Israel eyes deeper Lebanon incursions: Israeli report calls Lebanese Army's response a 'game-changer'
0
News Bulletin Reports
13:12
From ceasefire to daily strikes: Hezbollah disarmament debate coincides with renewed Israeli aggression
News Bulletin Reports
13:12
From ceasefire to daily strikes: Hezbollah disarmament debate coincides with renewed Israeli aggression
0
News Bulletin Reports
13:07
Timeline for Hezbollah disarmament: Is there an external green light to bypass the timeframe issue?
News Bulletin Reports
13:07
Timeline for Hezbollah disarmament: Is there an external green light to bypass the timeframe issue?
0
News Bulletin Reports
13:00
IMF and World Bank Spring Meetings: Lebanon hopes to turn positive signals into IMF agreement
News Bulletin Reports
13:00
IMF and World Bank Spring Meetings: Lebanon hopes to turn positive signals into IMF agreement
Subscribe to our VOD
SUBSCRIBE
Our visitors readings
d-none hideMe
0
Israel-Gaza War Updates
2025-01-27
Displaced Palestinians start returning to north Gaza: Interior Ministry
Israel-Gaza War Updates
2025-01-27
Displaced Palestinians start returning to north Gaza: Interior Ministry
0
Lebanon News
2025-04-03
French ruling lifts asset freezes on former central bank governor Riad Salameh
Lebanon News
2025-04-03
French ruling lifts asset freezes on former central bank governor Riad Salameh
0
News Bulletin Reports
2025-02-16
Pressure mounts as Lebanon and Israel approach key ceasefire deadline: The latest details
News Bulletin Reports
2025-02-16
Pressure mounts as Lebanon and Israel approach key ceasefire deadline: The latest details
0
Lebanon News
2025-03-08
Who is Michel Issa, selected as US ambassador to Lebanon, succeeding Lisa A. Johnson?
Lebanon News
2025-03-08
Who is Michel Issa, selected as US ambassador to Lebanon, succeeding Lisa A. Johnson?
Videos
d-none hideMe
0
Lebanon News
2025-04-08
Morgan Ortagus urges Lebanon to pass banking reforms to restore financial trust
Lebanon News
2025-04-08
Morgan Ortagus urges Lebanon to pass banking reforms to restore financial trust
0
Lebanon News
2025-04-06
LBCI Exclusive: US envoy Morgan Ortagus reveals US vision for Lebanon’s stability and disarmament – full interview transcript
Lebanon News
2025-04-06
LBCI Exclusive: US envoy Morgan Ortagus reveals US vision for Lebanon’s stability and disarmament – full interview transcript
0
Lebanon News
2025-03-23
LBCI's Pierre El Daher bids farewell to Hoda Chedid: You will always be our guiding light
Lebanon News
2025-03-23
LBCI's Pierre El Daher bids farewell to Hoda Chedid: You will always be our guiding light
0
Middle East News
2025-03-19
Israeli official urges international support for Lebanese government and army
Middle East News
2025-03-19
Israeli official urges international support for Lebanese government and army
0
Lebanon News
2025-02-23
Israeli aircraft fly at low altitude over Beirut during Hezbollah's former leaders funeral
Lebanon News
2025-02-23
Israeli aircraft fly at low altitude over Beirut during Hezbollah's former leaders funeral
0
Lebanon News
2025-02-23
Coffins of Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and Hashem Safieddine enter Sports City Stadium (Video)
Lebanon News
2025-02-23
Coffins of Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and Hashem Safieddine enter Sports City Stadium (Video)
0
Lebanon News
2025-02-23
Tens of thousands gather at Sports City Stadium for farewell to Hezbollah’s former leader Nasrallah (Video)
Lebanon News
2025-02-23
Tens of thousands gather at Sports City Stadium for farewell to Hezbollah’s former leader Nasrallah (Video)
0
Lebanon News
2025-02-14
Ahmad Hariri to LBCI: Future Movement returns to political arena to participate in all upcoming political events
Lebanon News
2025-02-14
Ahmad Hariri to LBCI: Future Movement returns to political arena to participate in all upcoming political events
0
Lebanon News
2025-02-13
Saad Hariri holds series of diplomatic and religious meetings in Beirut
Lebanon News
2025-02-13
Saad Hariri holds series of diplomatic and religious meetings in Beirut
Most read
d-none hideMe
24 hours
7 days
Month
1
World News
03:56
Vatican: Pope Francis dies
World News
03:56
Vatican: Pope Francis dies
2
News Bulletin Reports
13:14
Israel eyes deeper Lebanon incursions: Israeli report calls Lebanese Army's response a 'game-changer'
News Bulletin Reports
13:14
Israel eyes deeper Lebanon incursions: Israeli report calls Lebanese Army's response a 'game-changer'
3
Lebanon News
09:26
Lebanon declares three days of mourning for late Pope Francis
Lebanon News
09:26
Lebanon declares three days of mourning for late Pope Francis
4
Lebanon News
03:15
Lebanon's President Aoun visits Patriarch al-Rahi following hip surgery
Lebanon News
03:15
Lebanon's President Aoun visits Patriarch al-Rahi following hip surgery
5
News Bulletin Reports
13:12
From ceasefire to daily strikes: Hezbollah disarmament debate coincides with renewed Israeli aggression
News Bulletin Reports
13:12
From ceasefire to daily strikes: Hezbollah disarmament debate coincides with renewed Israeli aggression
6
News Bulletin Reports
13:07
Timeline for Hezbollah disarmament: Is there an external green light to bypass the timeframe issue?
News Bulletin Reports
13:07
Timeline for Hezbollah disarmament: Is there an external green light to bypass the timeframe issue?
7
News Bulletin Reports
13:00
IMF and World Bank Spring Meetings: Lebanon hopes to turn positive signals into IMF agreement
News Bulletin Reports
13:00
IMF and World Bank Spring Meetings: Lebanon hopes to turn positive signals into IMF agreement
8
World News
14:30
Pope died of a stroke and heart failure: Vatican doctor
World News
14:30
Pope died of a stroke and heart failure: Vatican doctor
Download now the LBCI mobile app
To see the latest news, the latest daily programs in Lebanon and the world
Google Play
App Store
We use
cookies
We use
cookies
to make
your experience on this
website better.
Accept
Learn More