[1] Helem (Arabic: حلم) is a Lebanese non-profit organization working on improving the legal and social status of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people (LGBT). Helem (complete name Arabic: حماية لبنانية للمثليين pronounced as ḥimāya lubnāniya lil-mithliyīn, translated as Lebanese Protection for Homosexuals [Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals and Transgenders]) is the first LGBT advocacy group in the Arab World.[2] Helem means dream in Arabic.
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Helem leads a peaceful struggle for the liberation of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community in Lebanon from all sorts of legal, social and cultural discrimination.
Helem (the Arabic acronym of "Lebanese Protection for Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals and Transgenders"), is a non-governmental non-profit organization registered in Quebec (Canada) as of February 11, 2004. As mentioned in Helem's constituting act, its action encompasses Lebanon and Canada. Helem has also established support groups in Australia, France and the United States, in addition to Canada.
Although it focuses on gay and lesbian issues, Helem membership is open to any person who shares its values based on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Helem is also strongly opposed to any kind of segregation, both in the services it offers or in the struggle it leads.
Helem is a legal organization recognized in Lebanon. As explained in the Helem website[3], "according to the Lebanese law of association, any non-government organization can register through providing public notice (in Arabic علم وخبر pronounced as 'ilm wa khabar) to the Lebanese Ministry of Interior. Contrary to popular opinion, organizations do not need "permission" from the Ministry in order to be considered legal. Furthermore, the Ministry is obligated by law to issue an immediate receipt with a registration number to the organization submitting its public notice. The only legal reasons justifying a rejection of public notice are: (a) The documentation provided in the public notice is incomplete (b) The organization's field of action and principles violate or compromise one of the following: National security, the sovereignty of the state, Public morality"
As of yet, Helem has not received its receipt of registration from the Ministry of Interior, which is a clear violation of the law and has no bearing on the legality of Helem, says the Helem presentation.
It goes on to explain that Helem does not violate public morals. None of Helem's activities violate any existing laws, including the law of public morality. In 2006, a lawsuit was filed against Helem accusing it of "public indecency and corrupting the youth", but after investigations failed to corroborate this claim, the lawsuit was dropped.
Helem's primary goal is the annulment of article 534 of the Lebanese Penal Code which punishes "unnatural sexual intercourse". This law is primarily used to target the LGBT community by violating the privacy of its members and by denying them basic human rights. The abolishment of this law will help reduce state and societal persecution and pave the way to achieving equality for the LGBT community in Lebanon. Helem's other main objective is to counter the AIDS epidemic and other sexually transmitted diseases while advocating for the rights of patients.
Helem, a group previously known as "Club Free", has been working on LGBT issues in Lebanon for the past 5 years. Its activities have included social and cultural events to bring the gay community together [1], extensive work on HIV/AIDS related issues [2], advocacy for prosecuted LGBT individuals and lobbying with other human rights organizations for the advancement of human rights and personal freedoms in Lebanon.
Helem also organizes an annual Lebanese event on the occasion of International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia. Helem's event on homophobia finds extensive coverage in the Lebanese press and has been reported in international news agencies.
Helem's immediate concern is to empower the LGBT community in Lebanon through rights and health awareness. Shielding LGBT individuals from persecution and discrimination also involves systematic monitoring of human rights violations and thorough follow up on individual cases. Helem.net and a planned on-location community center are formidable tools for the empowerment of LGBT individuals by offering useful information, and for the struggle against homophobia through visibility. Helem will also take part in all civil society activities deemed necessary to attain its goals. After all, the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community is an intrinsic part of the Lebanese social fabric.
Community center
On Feb 22 2009, Helem organized a first-ever LGBT public sit-in organized in the Arab World.
It also takes part in Beirut Marathon with its own emblem and participants.
On January 23, 2009, Helem was selected by the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission's (IGLHRC) Felipa de Souza Award in recognition of Helem's work to improve the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) and others who face discrimination because of their sexuality or HIV positive status.
Announcing the award, IGLHRC said: "The first organization in the Arab world to set up a gay and lesbian community center, Helem's work has consistently broken new ground in a country that criminalizes homosexuality and where violence and abuse are persistent problems. We applaud their courage and commitment to human rights for all." The Felipa Award was presented to Helem's coordinator, George Azzi, on March 30, 2009 in New York. Another celebration was organized on April 2, 2009 in San Francisco, California for a similar event.