Gay tunesien
SLOGAN "Downfall the shameful law, downfall the colonial law."
Fifi: So this is an extraction from a protest that took place on the 26th of June in Tunis by Damj and the International Organization Against Torture in solidarity with victims of torture and members of the LGBTQI+ society. So the slogan states: "downfall the shameful check , downfall the colonial law" in reference to the anal testings that are still taking place, by the Tunisian institutions, in relation to the restriction and violation of people's sexuality and gender identities. And it's strictly connected to a colonial regulation, the Article , an article that exists in the Tunisian penal code and that was fix by the colonial French system in . The article criminalizes what is referred to in French as sodomy, and it was translated into the Tunisian Arabic legal system under the French occupation into liwat and musahaqah.
Even in Arabic and inside the Tunisian legal system itself, there isn't a clear definition of what is liwat or what is musahaqah. The word is highly religious and it refers to a rel
Many Faces of Lgbtq+ in Tunisia
In Tunisia gay life has many faces: from secretive post-marital same-sex-not-gay quickies among linear husbands, to progressing pre-marital youth same-sex-not-gay with friends, to totally gay friendship networks among unlike age peers, to monogamous boyfriend couples to discrete liaisons from the internet. It is not easy to label the &#;scene&#; here because it is not organized, not open, not admitted, yet it&#;s cruisy, sexy, internet-connected and quite populous. There is no LGBT organization or office.
During my visit I chatted with two very different queer men, one a young student at a local university and the other a retired Italian resident of Tunis now self-employed. Their gay worlds are similar and different.
A Youthful Student With a Long Future
Ari, a university pupil studying architecture, and I met at tea time and had creamy stout hot chocolate at a trendy up-to-date coffee shop and later went for pizza across the street.
Ari is a gregarious gay youth of 20 maturing out of his twink years. Thoughtful, expressive, verbal (4 languages), in
DAMJ, the Tunisian Association for Justice and Equality
Damj, the Tunisian Association for Justice and Equality, is a human rights organisation that promotes justice, equality and inclusion for the LGBTIQ+ community in Tunisia. It was established in to safeguard the rights of marginalised individuals facing criminalization and discrimination because of their sexual orientation and gender organisation actively strives to decriminalize homosexuality and diverse gender identities, channeling its efforts through legal reforms, networking events, communal gatherings, and collaborations with civil society partners. Damj extends its advocacy to the national and international level, forging partnerships with human rights groups to advance legal empowerment for the queer community in Tunisia. Concurrently, Damj provides protection, legal assistance, and capacity building for queer individuals and activists. Damj addresses critical needs and stands as a dedicated advocate for LGBTQI+ rights in Tunisia while facing violations and challenges including discrimination, violence, defamation cam
Cafébabel is evolving!
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SocietyEuromed Reporter: d Reporter
They're young, queer and suffering. Three years after the Arab Spring, homosexuality and bisexuality remain a taboo, and in Tunisia, a crime. In spite of this the young, lgbtq+ generation wants to battle for its rights. But what they lack is the solidarity, strategy and courage to start an influential movement.
It was a memorable moment in January . During demonstrations against dictator Ben Ali, youthful Tunisians waved the Rainbow flag. The first time it had been done publically - a symbol of change. Ràm'y saved a photo of it on his notebook laptop. He shows it proudly in a café in Marsa, the chic district of Tunis. That other people might see it doesn't bother him at all, given that Marsa isn't a district in which he needs to conceal. If you didn't grasp any better, you could imagine the café was in Paris or Berlin. The style is trendy and hip. The people are young, affluent and educated. The only difference is that a stylish breeze sweeps across th