Please subscribe to our blog to get our latest update ------->>>>>
When I first heard
about “Machrou3 Leila”, I was deeply surprised because I always knew that the tolerant
atmosphere ruling our society is only a camouflage, and behind it lies a great
mess of conservative ideas and concepts.
I always knew that the
existence of a Lebanese Rock band with an openly gay man as the lead singer
would raise a controversy, and I always hoped that the talent of Hamed Sinno
and the rest of the band would push people to accept them.
Recently, the calls
for intolerance are being heard louder and louder. Lebanon with 19 different sects and the largest
diversity in the world is showing some dangerous signs of narrowness and
extremism.
Today, Mr. Faoud Al
Adam, who turned out to be a public figure in Zouk Mikael, urged people to stop
“Machrou3 Leila” from performing at Zouk Mikael International festival.
“We, the honorable
free people in Zouk will not be silenced. We will
be moving on the ground to stop this band from entering our town.
Lebanon is a land for traditional families, not a land for faggots.”
Mr. Fouad insulted the
band using expressions like “شاذين جنسياً”, “فرقة لوطيين”, and “أنصاف رجال”, and asked
the religious and cultural figures to stand by his side to fight against Machrou3
Leila’s concert.
I was really surprised by Mr. Fouad’s statement because two years ago,
Machrou3 Leila performed in Baalbek (one of the most conservative Islamic cities
in Lebanon) and the concert went smoothly. I hate to talk this way but as I
recall, Lebanese Christian citizens are the ones who used to be the least conservative
of all!
While we are facing da3ech threat, such a statement reminds us that our
society is already diseased and the great danger does not lie outside the
boundaries but within. We live in a country that is facing
thousands of problems and what some people care about is the sexual orientation
of Hamed Sinno!
I am not sure how a musical concert may influence people’s “culture” or
how the sexual orientations of a singer have anything to do with the audience. NOBODY
has the right to forbid a Lebanese band from performing, no one has the right
to teach people morals, and no one has the right to judge Hamed Senno or insult
him.
I have a gay friend who used to correct me every time I used the word
“gay” to refer to someone. “Rihab, you can’t address me saying “You are a gay”.
Gay is an adjective and it does not define me”. While reading Mr. Fouad’s
statement today I asked myself how would he feel if people addressed him by
words like “Straight”, “Short”, “White”, or “intolerant”?
Defining Hamed Senno by one word is unfair and unhuman. Hamed Senno is
not “a gay”, Hamed is a talented singer and a brave man. He is using his music
to defend himself and stand by the LGBT Society.
Hamed Sinno, despite of the haters, believe me many people loves
you are they are proud of you. Go to the Zouk Festival, shine as you always do,
give your best performance, and spread love and happiness.
Rihab
Photo credits : Stop cultural terrorism
https://www.facebook.com/STOPCulturalTerrorismInLebanon
No comments:
Post a Comment