Dozens of people demonstrated outside the law courts in the Lebanese capital on Saturday to protest the use of anal "tests" on men suspected of homosexuality, which is a criminal offence in the Arab country.
The rally followed a July 28 police raid on a gay venue in a working class district of Beirut when 36 men were taken into custody and forced to undergo the examinations, reportedly to determine their sexual orientation.
HELEM, considered the Arab world's leading lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights group, called for the rally under the slogan: "Stand up against the tests of shame, vaginal or anal."
It also voiced solidarity with women subjected to so-called "virginity tests."
"We’re here because we want a clear statement from the ministry of justice that these kind of tests should be completely abolished and punished by the law," said participant George Azzi.
"The syndicate of doctors has declared these tests are irrelevant scientifically and it’s illegal for doctors to do these tests, but that doesn't mean police can't still request it," he said.
Men and women - ranging from gay and lesbian young adults to a father and daughter - chanted in unison and held banners that read: "United to abolish the tests of shame."
Other homemade signs struck a more sarcastic tone: "Honorable minister, before you test my anus, at least take me out to dinner," read one.
But for most, the tests were no laughing matter.
One sign read: "The cost of forensic rape: 125,000 Lebanese lira" (about $85), pointing out that the men subjected to the anal probes were being charged for the procedure.
Under Article 534 of the Lebanese Penal Code, sexual relations "contradicting the laws of nature" are illegal and violators may be punished by up to one year in prison.
Ya know what's really funny to me?
That the same folks (generally speaking, of course)... who are all about opposition to the Gay gender in the USofA are the same crowd of people who too often (generally speaking, of course) gush with love and support for Tel Aviv and how important it is that it survive against the horde of those who most/best represent opposition to the Gay gender.
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The Isreal that (a lot of) American conservatives profess such love for is an idea that exists in their fevered eschatological imaginations, not the country with real people in it that actually exists.
Oh, shit, I just recognized Israel, didn't I?
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