It is 2018 and NGOs in Lebanon not only have to make campaigns to get people to accept homosexuals the way they are, but to also raise awareness about homosexuality not being a disease an to not attempt to “cure it”!
For that reason, LebMASH (The Lebanese Medical Association for Sexual Health) collaborated with Agnes Varis Trust and launched a campaign this month titled HINAD (Homosexuality Is Not A Disease) to affirm once again that homosexuality is simply a state and not a disease, and to warn about the consequences about all the “conversion” attempts whether through coaxing, hormonal treatments or even “electroshock” therapy, that people think are effective to change the sexual orientation of a homosexual individuals.
A recent study that 72% of people in Lebanon believe that homosexuality is a mental disorder and 79% agree that homosexuals should be taken in for psychological or hormonal treatment, and that’s why they also made a hotline 76-085714 available for people who wish to report violations or seek information about the best ways to deal with LGBT individuals.
I truly believe there’s so much time ahead before we convince our society to accept homosexuals the way they are instead of bullying them and attempt to “straighten” them, and that’s why I hope this campaign makes an impact by driving more people to reach out to the available advisers.