Hi mom. It's me. Beirut Boy.

• If you’re active in the Lebanese blogosphere, then you definitely heard of the LebIdaho initiative.
• If you’re active on twitter, you probably noticed the #lebidaho hashtag.
• If you’re active in the Lebanese partying scene, then you might have noticed the multicolor Idaho flyers on the Hamra & Gemmayze walls.

The LebIdaho Project is: Lebanese gay bloggers asking people to tell us how homophobia affects them.

Each day, one story was posted on a joint blog & the submissions keep on coming! Apparently, gay people & their straight friends have a lot to say. Us bloggers who participated in this project also have somethin to say. Check it out below!

ps: Big thanks to our Art Director, who was present in this project since its inception. Literally.

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Beirut Boy:

Thank you homophobes. With each slap in the face. With each kick in the gut. With each “Ya foufou”, I’m getting stronger. Three years ago, I didn’t have the courage to attend the IDAHO event. I was afraid… [read more here]

Lebanon Rebel:

I will marry the woman I love and people will have to get over it eventually, because if I lie, hide, or get scared, it will only be me who regrets it. But the fight against homophobia is…   [read more here]

RaynbowMonitor:

Dear Lebanese Sir,

You say I am plagued with a disease even though I might be your saviour doctor. You say I am a sexual addict even though I might be your celibate priest. You say I am a psychopath even though… [read more here]

Rainbow Experience:

We are human, we are normal. Accept us as we are, cause we are not going to change. Your harassing will not make us leave. You cannot pray, punch or bully the gay out of us. What doesn’t kill… [read more here]

Lebanese Alien:

It’s not safe for me here. I can’t live the life I want. I can’t express myself, out loud. Unlike my friends, I can’t date anyone I want and … [read more here]

LebaGaGa:

 Lebanon, you know that I love you. Family, you know that I need you, but I want it bad. I want that bad romance.  How does homophobia in Lebanon affect me? It makes me want to leave…  [read more here]

Gay in Beirut:

Three Years. That’s the number I came up with when I sat down to evaluate what it has cost me, to come of age in so-so (oh so?) homophobic Lebanon. Three long years it seemed, when I was able to…  [read more here]

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