The Lebanese Medical Association for Sexual Health LebMASH participated in the awareness campaign launched by Embrace Fund on suicide in Lebanon, which took place on September 13th, 2015 in Rawsheh, Beirut.
Read More “Every 3 Days, Someone Commits Suicide in Lebanon”
LebMASH, a Lebanese NGO that works to further sexual education, has turned to crowdfunding to ensure a continued funding stream for its “Breaking the Silence” grants that reward students who are contributing to increased awareness of physical and mental health issues related to sexual minorities and sexual health in general.
Read More “Lebanese sexual health NGO seeking funds for ‘Breaking the Silence’ program”
On May 14th, 2015 the Lebanese Medical Association for Sexual Health (LebMASH) participated in the launching event of the National Strategy for Mental Health and Substance Use 2015-2020 at the Lebanese University, Al-Mathaf, Beirut.
Read More “Lebanon Launches National Strategy for Mental Health”
On December 9 and 10 of 2015 , Dr. Rami Baz represented LebMASH at the PAHO-WHO “Regional Meeting on the Health of LGBT Persons and Human Rights”.
As part of its vision, the Lebanese Medical Association for Sexual Health (LebMASH) works with students to raise their awareness and develop their capacities on sexual health and healthcare with no discrimination based on gender, sexual orientation or gender identity.
Read More “LebMASH/LeMSIC filling a gap in medical student education and training”
It is with great pleasure that we share with you our first Annual Report that covers 2013 & 2014. We hope that reading this report will inspire you to share it with your friends and contacts.
Since its inception in September 2012, LebMASH has been growing at a steady pace and our board members, partners, interns, and volunteers have been working relentlessly to serve LebMASH’s mission of advancing healthcare for LGBT individuals and sexual/reproductive health for all individuals in Lebanon.
For any questions or comments or if you would like to make a donation please contact LebMASH at info@lebmash.org You support is essential to our success.
LebMASH was represented by Ramy Shukr at the “Covering LGBT issues in the Lebanese media” workshop hosted by SKeyes Center for Media and Cultural Freedom, in partnership with the Thomson Foundation and Maharat Foundation on Tuesday November 11, 2014 at L’Appartement, Achrafieh, along with representatives of different organizations, including the Arab Foundation for Freedoms and Equality, Helem, Legal Agenda, LBCI, NOW Lebanon, and L’Orient Le Jour.
Dr. Brigitte Khoury will be the recipient of LebMASH’s Leader in LGBT Healthcare Equality Award.
Dr. Chadi Ibrahim, LebMASH executive board member, and Dr. Sandrine Atallah, LebMASH partner, presented at the Lebanese Society of Family Medicine 13th annual conference on Gender, Health and Sexuality held at The Crowne Plaza in Beirut on Nov. 15, 2014.
This is a letter sent by LebMASH president on Dec. 9 2014 to Dr. Bizri in response to his radio interview on World AIDS Day.
Hello Dr. Bizri,
I just heard the interview that you gave last week with Sawt Lebnan Radio station about HIV/AIDS.
I, with a group of other physicians, founded LebMASH (the Lebanese Medical Association for Sexual Health) two years ago in Lebanon.
LebMASH’s mission is to advance the health of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) people in Lebanon and the sexual health of all Lebanese people.
In our work we have collaborated with clinics like marsa and have been very concerned about the rise of HIV among young gay men. We are also concerned in general about poor access to care among LGBT people in Lebanon due to fear of discrimination or homophobia, both of which are unfortunately rampant among our health care providers.
It gives me so much hope to know that there are people like you and Dr. Nesrine Rizk who are approaching the issue of HIV/AIDS with such integrity and based on science.
I also couldnt have agreed more with every word you said regarding the need to update our antiquated 534 penal code. Even though article 534 technically does not apply to homosexuality since it punishes any sexual intercourse that is against nature and homosexuality is not a disease and is not against nature. We all know that the police in Lebanon continue to harass and arrest men based on the suspicion of being gay.
Knowing how hard it is to change laws in Lebanon, we and other organizations have realized that a good alternative to the ultimate goal of abolishing article 534, would be to deactivate it by educating the public in general and the legal community specifically that this law is not relevant to homosexuality.
Religion and the conservative cultural environment continue to pose a significant challenge in Lebanon and it was very interesting what you said about religious leaders who might be sympathetic. This also gives us great hope especially that some people in Lebanon do have a tendency to become religious when the issue of homosexuality is brought up but somehow they dont mind numerous other issues that are not allowed by religion such as stealing, drinking alcohol, and eating pork.
Thank you again for this great interview and for all the work that you have been doing to take care of people living with HIV/AIDS and to promote awareness and understating of this disease.
All the best,
Dr. Omar Fattal
President, LebMASH
lebmash.org 