As the war on Lebanon intensifies, Israel’s daily strikes have caused the death of over one thousand lives and displaced nearly one million people. Behind these huge numbers and atrocious statistics are personal stories, struggles, and individuals whose lives are shattered today. Amid the chaos, we often forget that among war victims are some of Lebanon’s most vulnerable populations, including queer individuals, domestic workers, refugees, and others who often find themselves marginalized and forgotten. 

Helem’s mission in crises 

Doumit Azzi Draiby, Communications Coordinator at Helem—the first LGBTQIA+ rights organization in the Arab world, founded in Beirut in 2000—speaks to the experiences of those made invisible during the war, particularly queer people. Helem, with its mission to lead the struggle for the liberation of LGBTQIA+ individuals in Lebanon and the SWANA region, has been, since the start of the Israeli escalation, at the forefront of providing relief to the community. 

“Everything started in early September,” Doumit shares, “with the first phone call we received from a group of trans women amid the escalation of Israeli airstrikes.” This led Helem to immediately organize relief efforts based on early indicators they were able to identify: Even before the war, especially since Lebanon’s economic crisis began, queer individuals have faced increased marginalization in the public sphere. “During crises”, Azzi Draiby explains, “this marginalization intensifies, particularly for transgender individuals, who often cannot hide their gender identity and become more vulnerable to all forms of violence.” 

Private shelters: protecting queer individuals from violence 

Recognizing the risks queer individuals face in shared shelters—where they might encounter violence, persecution, or simply feel unwelcome—Helem rushed to establish private shelters for those who reached out via their helpline, operating from early morning until midnight. Beyond offering safe spaces, Helem is also providing medication, hygiene products, and essential food supplies. Helem hopes it can soon extend mental health support to queer individuals affected by the conflict. To support these efforts, Helem called for volunteers to assist in the relief operations. Tens have joined this call so far.  

However, it is important to note that many queer individuals, both Lebanese and foreign residents, struggling to find shelter, remain out of Helem’s reach, especially as the Lebanese government has not included Helem in its emergency response plans. This absence of official cooperation leaves no formal mechanism to direct vulnerable queer individuals to Helem. 

A long road ahead: No quick recovery for Lebanon’s queer community 

As the war continues, Doumit highlights that the challenges facing the LGBTQIA+ community are far from over. Even after the end of the war, many will likely lose their jobs and struggle to pay rent. “Most of the community,” Azzi Draiby explains, “are daily workers, and with the ongoing war, they are losing their source of income.” With rents likely to rise, the situation will become even more difficult for those already living on the margins. 

Despite these overwhelming challenges, Helem remains on the front lines helping tens of queer displaced individuals, but as Doumit notes, “the road to recovery will be long and full of new obstacles for Lebanon’s queer community.” 

Reflections  

The road to recovery will not be easy. It is evident that as Lebanon continues to fall into crisis, priorities become more pronounced, suppressing the voices of marginalized groups. The reality is that, in the coming period, the war will take precedence over all other issues, silencing the queer community alongside other marginalized groups. We will find ourselves in a time when “no voice should rise above that of the battle.”  

However, it remains important for us in civil society and among activists to make this our battle for all voices to matter, especially those who suffer in silence. Defending these initiatives and highlighting the struggles of vulnerable groups through an intersectional approach is our responsibility and will always be our response to systematic oppression. 

Charbel Chaaya 

Charbel Chaaya earned his bachelor’s degree in French and Lebanese Law, followed by a master’s 1 in Public Law from Université Saint-Joseph de Beyrouth. He then obtained a master’s 2 in Constitutional Law and Fundamental Rights from Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne. He is a trainee lawyer, a senior research assistant at the Asfari Institute for Civil Society and Citizenship at AUB, and a program manager at the Arab Association of Constitutional Law.