Defiantly Drag
Lebanon's drag queens defy clamp-down on LGBTQ freedoms
In 2018, Beirut emerged as a haven for queer culture in the Arab world, with an appeals court ruling in favour of same-sex marriage. But in 2019 the Beirut pride event was cancelled for 'inciting indecency' with anti-lgbtq protestors removing the flags and posters. Drag shows are now often performed under tight security and in 2022 the interior ministry ordered a clamp-down on events "promoting sexual perversion". A wave of hate speech followed. "We are doing something we're proud of. I'm doing art and I'll keep doing it", says Diva.
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