have you read the story lately?
I was on twitter when someone said that joe Maalouf is belevied to be gay….
my answer is I don’t CARE! what is this stupid and negative campaign going to do to raise awareness against homophobic reactions in Lebanon?!!!!
if a stupid tv host is gay or hetero, what this will add to the cause?? Nothing….
what I am talking about ? those are the multiple tweets and blogs I condemn.
the story begins with this news published by a certain Dan Littauer in Gay Star News: I am copying the article for those who cannot open it, below;
the article features a link on MTV news called prostitution and perversion in a Cinema; I am also copying the article below for those who would like to read it in arabic. the piece of news is more rubbish, they call gays perverts, ….. akh 
Helem an association that “leads a peaceful struggle for the liberation of people with non-conforming sexualities or gender identities …” condemned the program and the MTV programs; موقف جمعيّة “حلم” من برنامج “أنت حر” http://helem.net/node/210
the problem I have is with the articles that showed in THE gay star news, that has been going viral on social media, on akhbar el chabeb of annahar, on blogs,
for example the last article “Lebanon : Offensive … conducted by a homophobic gay? Posted by Akhbar Shabeb ⋅ July 30, 2012″ the last paragraph stipulates ” The irony is that Maalouf himself is gay. In any case the assertion Georges Azzi , Helem founder and current leader of the Arab Foundation for Freedom and Equality. On Facebook, he commented on the matter in these terms: “I do not know what’s sadder: that Joe Maalouf’s gay (and well known by the gay community) and working for a conservative chain is taking for the morality police or the fact that this young homo in the closet with his stupid program can mobilize the police as no other movement. “ …. what?!!!! I truly hope that Azzi didnt do that… is that positive campaigning????? outing people when we need in lebanon to help people feel safe, and accepted and Respected as they are?!!! I am sorry…. again this is for me Rubbish!!! this doesn’t help the cause on the contrary!!
Pire, the bloggers took on this trend with articles such as the one that was published by fafathink Joe Maalouf is a homophobic Nazi prick. , again, what??!!?!!! this doesnt help the cause!!! Dears, dears, this is not what we should focus on!!! we should focus on how to amend article 534 ,
As the third voice of Lebanon is doing… with the great text that uses a great legal jargon….. but focus on the loopholes of the Lebanese legislation system! LES EXAMENS DE LA HONTE À L’ÉPREUVE DE LA CONSTITUTION LIBANAISE.pdf Version History here is the link…. “https://www.facebook.com/groups/La3emvoix/365162720219632/” !!
I am angry!!! I remember what the politicians do when they campaign using rubbish, and rubbish talks!!! …… we should focus on the men arrested, and the legislation that will apply to them, and not ternish someone reputation!!!
I am angry!! we need positive and proactive campaigns!!!
Rita Chemaly….
here is the article of Gay Star News http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/lebanon-arrests-36-men-gay-porn-cinema290712:
Lebanon arrests 36 men in gay porn cinema
It called the men ‘shozoz’, a highly derogatory term in Arabic roughly translated to ‘perverts’ in English, and alleged the cinema was a ‘safe haven’ for prostitution and debauchery.
In an attempt to fuel public outrage the report stated that the man behind the Colorado cinema shooting was gay – which is an allegation without any evidence behind it. It said in Lebanon the issue is the transformation of cinemas into a place of immorality prostitution and perversion.
It is unclear if the men, who ‘are mainly gay’, according to MTV, are still being detained or have been released.
In addition the cinema was shut down by the police.
Lebanese activists are still unclear on what grounds the men were arrested, but they suspect that ‘public indecency’ and Article 534 of the Lebanese penal code were used to arrest them.
Article 534 prohibits having sexual relations ‘contradicting the laws of nature’, which is punishable by up to a year in prison.
In 2009 Judge Mounir Suleiman from the Batroun court district ruled that consensual homosexual relations are not against nature and thus cannot be prosecuted under article 534, but it may be that in this case the article had nevertheless been used.
Helem, the LGBT advocacy charity in Lebanon, is now seeking legal advice and is planning for direct action.
The arrest comes after a concerted anti-gay campaign championed by reporter and celebrity presenter Joe Maalouf, in his program ‘Enta Horr’ (‘You are free’) that is screened by MTV.
On 8 May MTV screened the program featuring an undercover camera filming men having sex in a porn cinema in the city of Tripoli, whilst exposing their identity to the public.
Maalouf called upon the police and authorities to act against the shozoz (perverts), debauchery and prostitution which they practice in ‘such places.’
He also mentioned that there are several other cinemas that practice this ‘debauchery’.
Helem condemned the program saying that it violated the right of privacy and basic human rights, let alone being unprofessional and unethical by the use of inflammatory and negative language. It called upon Maalouf, and the station to apologise and retract the broadcast.
Maalouf, however, did not relent his homophobic campaign and mentioned on several occasions other cinemas allow ‘debauchery’, perversion and prostitution.
A few weeks ago he also alleged that the authorities are protecting the perverts and the cinemas and called for law enforcement action against these cinemas. This instigated the raid on Saturday.
Maalouf is widely believed in the Lebanese LGBT community to be a closeted gay man, although Gay Star News can not verify if he is truly gay. However his actions have now lead to him being outed.
Commenting on the news, Georges Azzi, the founder of Helem and executive director for the Arab Foundation For Freedoms And Equality stated on his Facebook page: ‘After the call made by Joe Maalouf in his program “inta horr”, yesterday the police raided plaza cinema in Burj Hammoud, a gay cruising cinema.
‘I do not know what is more sad, the fact that Joe Maalouf is gay (and well known by the gay community) and he is working for a conservative TV station playing the morality police, or the fact that a closeted gay kid with a stupid program can mobilize the police like no other movement could.’
Watch Maalouf’s rant on 8 May program ‘Enta Horr’ (from 00:42:00) in Arabic:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1dZWdm1mi8&feature=player_embedded
Related Terms:
دعارة وشذوذ في السينما
Sat 28 Jul 2012 – 9:03:00 PM
عادة ما تكون مخبأ من الحياة العملية او ما عداها او كوة تلتمس منها مكانا للسفر إلى عالم الخيال أو ربما التراجيديا ، ولم لا… الكوميديا في أغلب الاحيان.
يجمعون على تسميتها بالفن السابع كيف لا والسينما تجمع أروع الاعمال والمواهب وتضم أضخم الانتاجات التي تراسل الشرق والغرب ناقلة بمبلغ زهيد حضارات وثقافات إلى زمان ومكان مختلفين.
إلا أنها تحولت في الآونة الاخيرة الى ملاذ للمنحرفين يفجرون فيه اكل ما يختزنون في داخلهم من مشاكل نفسية أو كبت أو حتى “شذوذ”.
البداية كانت من كولورادو التي شهدت إحدى صالات السينما فيها جريمة مروعة بعد ان اقدم شاب على إطلاق النار بشكل عشوائي موقعا 12 قتيلا وعشرات الجرحى.
في لبنان، الوضع مختلف حيث لم يسقط لا قتلى ولا جرحى، انما المشكلة اخلاقية وتحديدا في صالة سينما بلازا في النبعة، حيث وللمرة الثالثة تم إقفالها بالشمع الأحمر بسبب تحولها إلى مكان للدعارة والشذوذ. كما تم إلقاء القبض في داخلها على ستة وثلاثين شخصا معظمهم من الشاذين جنسيا، منهم بالجرم المشهود، كما تم توقيف صاحب السينما
to view the piece if video check this link : it appeared on the news http://mtv.com.lb/News/108657
| أمن وقضاء | ||
| 31-07-2012 19:47 | ||
| 36 شاباً اقتيدوا من صالة سينما وأٌخضعوا لفحوصات المثلية | ||
|
هزت فضيحة جديدة “سينما بلازا” في برج حمود، التي أقفلت بالشمع الاحمر بقرار من الدولة لكونها تشكّل تهديداً للأخلاق العامة، في خطوة ليست الاولى من نوعها فقد قامت الدولة باقفال صالات كثيرة أخرى منها “سينما موناكو” لأنها تهددّ الآداب العامة. |
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Good for you Rita! This story of those arrested and called perverts just because of who they are infuriates me!
i liked your article Rita,,, your way of thinking,,,,,you r right my dear we should focus on the problem not on the person, it’s not about tarnish someone’s reputation,,,,,,Joe Maalouf is one of 3.5 Million homophobic person is this country.
we should focus on how to amend article 534,,,,100%