LGBT: Lebanon

Homosexuality is still illegal in Lebanon but that doesn’t mean you have to scratch it off your travel list just yet. There are patches of acceptance hidden around the country, especially in the capital city of Beirut.

Bars like Posh, B 018 and Wolf Bar serve as safe havens for the LGBT community, but outside their doors you don’t want to showcase your sexuality by holding hands with your partner. Unfortunately, public sentiment toward gay men and women isn’t exactly favorable and being too open about it could lead to a public frisk or, even worse, an arrest.

Helem, an LGBT organization working toward equal rights, is doing a lot of work toward making equality the norm in Lebanon but they still have a long way to go. You’re definitely free to check out their office and see how the local LGBT community lives in such a hostile environment.

Finding gay-owned restaurants and shops is difficult, and gay-friendly hotels are pretty much non-existent for legal reasons, so always be wary of the attention you’re drawing no matter where you go. Lebanon is still a fascinating country with plenty to see and do, and mostly friendly people, but it’s not exactly safe the way we might expect back home.