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Ghiwa Abi Haidar, an activist working mainly through digital media , told DW she had ended her "personal relationship" with Mar Mikhael, even though she continues to live in the neighborhood. The gay parties are better, the gay beaches are nice, etc. A lot of them were also forced to leave their homes in more permissive neighborhoods for less expensive and potentially less progressive areas on the outskirts of the city.

Gay Life in Lebanon: Bounce Back Beirut Beirut’s world fame for war is finally being overshadowed by its emerging reputation as the (gay) party capital of the Middle East. Mana Jumana found herself in just such a situation. The office was only meters yards away from ground zero of last August's massive explosion in Beirut's port , a blast that destroyed several neighborhoods in the Lebanese capital and came on top of a worsening economic and political crisis.

Unsurprisingly, Bardo made it to our list of queer friendly spots in Beirut! Her financial and social independence gone, Jumana saw no other option but to return to her family home — a place she had left three years previously after an argument. Although any physical wounds have healed, the psychological ones clearly remain.

We lost all our papers and files but most importantly, we lost a safe space for the LGBTQ community here. Since then, she has had barely any contact with her relatives. Abi Haidar explained how she tried to rekindle the feelings she had for her neighborhood over the following weeks.

Many were forced to leave their damaged homes and move back in with their families. The damage in these neighborhoods has had a big impact on those who lived there and in fact, the whole LGBTQ scene in the city. In this article we will cover Attractions In Gay Beirut, Lebanon Gay-Friendly And Gay Hotels In Beirut, LebanonGay Nightlife In Beirut, LebanonCool Coffee Spots In BeirutLGBT Rights .

If you want my advice, I say come and enjoy the country as much as you can. A travel guide to the gay area in Beirut that covers everything from music, hotels, restaurants and other entertainment. Gay Lebanon guide linking to our gay Beirut page. Information about gay bars and gay-friendly hotels.

For many members of the LGBTQ community, the port explosion did more than cause physical dislocation. Some had to move to the countryside or left for more conservative cities elsewhere, like Tripoli. As a result, it was also home to those LGBTQ people in Beirut who could afford it.

With over clubs, bars, restaurants and shops the Spartacus Going Out Guide is the largest online search engine for gay nightlife and lifestyle worldwide. Fifteen months later, life has returned to Helem's headquarters. This applies to Lebanon as well but not all urban areas are liberal.

Thankfully, she told DW, the atmosphere at home has improved. The devastating port explosion last August, caused by incorrectly stored ammonium nitrate, destroyed large parts of the nearby Mar Mikhael and Gemmayzeh neighborhoods. Her eyes fill with tears. She still finds it hard to talk about that day, the stress and the fear, the panicked search for missing friends.

Her mother and her sister have been more understanding since the explosion — although, as Jumana, knows, other members of the local LGBTQ community have not been so lucky. This bar, cafe, and restaurant is an incredible place that has led the charge on inclusivity in Lebanon for so long.

She also volunteered to help clean up the streets after the explosion. As does the practical impact of the disaster: The port explosion saw Jumana lose her apartment in Mar Mikhael and her job, too. Of course, like in any country in the world, you have the utterly rural/conservative population and the urban/liberal population.

The organization has resumed its work here and once again the local LGBTQ community has a place where they can gather without fear of discrimination or harassment , Zeidan said. Zeidan believes it had even more of an impact on nearby neighborhoods where the less affluent lived, including LGBTQ people who couldn't afford the high rents in trendy Mar Mikhael or Gemmayzeh.

At the time of the explosion, the local woman who identifies as lesbian and who prefers not to use her real name for fear of harassment, had been at home in Mar Mikhael preparing for a night out with friends. The areas were known for their many trendy bars, clubs and cafes, their relaxed atmosphere, and their gentrification and comparatively high rents.