The Lebanese Psychiatric Society has just released a statement saying that Homosexuality is not a mental disorder. The statement reads as follows:

• “Homosexuality is not a mental disorder and does not need to be treated.”
• “Homosexuality in itself does not cause any defect in judgment, stability, reliability or social and professional abilities.”
• “The assumption that homosexuality is a result of disturbances in the family dynamic or unbalanced psychological development is based on wrong information.”
  

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Good News

In a country with a sociocultural makeup like ours where religious conservatism is still quite strong, this is good news. With science’s progress as well as society’s morals, the general opinion in open-minded circles has now accepted, or is starting to accept, the diversity of sexual orientations. This has lead to LGBTs having their basic human rights fully (in a few countries) or partially (in a few more) respected. And it is a good thing that Lebanon is following suit. There will always be those who resist and deny reality, but we will fight them with facts on one hand and a passion for  human rights on the other.

So let’s celebrate this good news and hope that it’ll bring better news in the near future for Lebanon’s LGBT population.